In a renewed bid to bolster safety on Lagos waterways, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), and Bras Marine Ltd have launched a joint safety campaign aimed at educating residents on best practices for water travel and the risks associated with water transportation.
At a press conference in Lagos, the key stakeholders underscored the pressing need for synergy among government agencies, private sector players and boat operators to curb accidents and protect lives on the waterways. Speaking at the event, LASWA General Manager, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, highlighted the central role of partnerships in ensuring safer water transport. “We need the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders. For me, the key element here is collaboration—and we are witnessing that today. The government cannot do it alone. In terms of safety and awareness, we need the support of private sector organisations. Years ago, Total Nigeria Limited donated 2,500 life jackets, and we saw the positive impact that had. Lagos is surrounded by water, and we want to ensure that we can optimise water transportation safely. While we’re doing well, the reward for hard work is even more work. We need to do more,” Emmanuel said. He also called on other Nigerian states to improve their inland waterways, noting that 28 of the country’s 36 states have these resources but have yet to fully develop them.
Chairman of Bras Marine, Prince Yomi Sonuga highlighted the critical importance of safety enforcement, particularly in preventing overcrowding and equipment failures, which have been major contributors to past accidents. “Safety is a great concern we all should take seriously because casualties from boat accidents are devastating. We remember the number of people that died when 360 passengers were packed on a 90-passenger boat. This happens everywhere, not just in Nigeria, when there’s overcrowding or when authorities fail to enforce regulations. Yes, people can be stubborn, but we have to do much more. Somebody has to drive the boat, and companies or officials must be held responsible,” Sonuga said.
Sonuga proposed that Bras Marine assists boat operators directly, rather than simply donating life jackets. He suggested working with operators to provide discounted equipment and spare parts to help improve vessel safety. “The operators have to take responsibility. They cannot just be counting naira; they need to consider that life is important. Anything we can do to assist you as operators—that’s why we’re here,” he said. He also shared exciting developments on the horizon for Lagos tourism, revealing that one of the world’s largest cruise companies is considering Lagos as a hub. “Imagine hundreds of millions of dollars coming into Lagos when these cruise ships start arriving. Operators will be able to ferry tourists from the mothership to the city, opening up a whole new sector and bringing foreign exchange to Nigeria. Apart from transportation, this will boost tourism and create business opportunities across Epe, Badagry and beyond,” Sonuga said.
The Area Manager of NIWA, Engr. Sarat Buraimo, expressed optimism about the collaboration. She noted that the combined efforts of NIWA, LASWA, and Bras Marine aim to not only educate the public but also set higher safety standards on the waterways. “For us at NIWA, this partnership represents a critical turning point. Our goal is simple: to reduce accidents on our waterways to the barest minimum. We want every passenger and every operator to understand that safety is non-negotiable. Whether you are boarding a ferry in Lagos or crossing a river in another state, we want Nigerians to know they can trust the system.”
Buraimo emphasised that beyond education, enforcement will be key. “We are not just here to sensitise the public; we are here to strengthen enforcement. Operators who flout safety regulations, overloading, lack of life jackets and poor maintenance must know that we are watching. We will not hesitate to apply sanctions where necessary. We need to start with the operators, many of whom have never received formal training. We will be rolling out new operator certification programmes to make sure they understand basic safety procedures, navigation rules, and passenger responsibility,” Buraimo said.
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