Sanwo-Olu’s ferry safety strategy urges West and Central Africa to adopt a unified framework for safer regional waterways and emergency innovation

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]anwo-Olu’s ferry safety strategy was at the heart of discussions on Wednesday as the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, called on West and Central African countries to collaborate on a unified safety framework for ferry transport across the region.

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Represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, the governor delivered his message at the Regional Ferry Safety Conference in Lagos.

Organised by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in partnership with the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) and Interferry, the conference themed ‘Charting Safer Waters: Advancing Ferry Safety through Innovation, Collaboration and Integrated Transport Solutions’ gathered ferry operators, maritime experts, and government officials from across the sub-region.

Sanwo-Olu emphasised the need for shared data, coordinated policy, and the deployment of modern maritime technology such as GPS, radar, and automated emergency response systems.

“Our waterways must not be only conduits for transportation but also bastions of safety,” he said.

He also stressed that Lagos, already handling about 60,000 daily water commuters, had committed significant investment into jetties, ferry terminals, rescue patrols, digital monitoring systems, and the first inland waterways data centre.

Our waterways must not be only conduits for transportation but also bastions of safety.

“In Lagos, we have deployed patrol and rescue boats equipped with advanced safety gear, implemented stricter operational guidelines, and introduced the Omi Bus standard ferries,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“However, ferry safety is not just a local issue — it’s a regional imperative.”

The Secretary-General of MOWCA, Dr Paul Adalikwu, said Lagos was chosen for the conference due to its 22 per cent water coverage, multimodal transport structure, and established water transport authority.

“The idea is to align Lagos’s success model with global best practices,” he added.

Interferry Chairman, Tim Mooney, praised LASWA’s operational standards, particularly noting the consistent use of life jackets.

“This is amazing and reflects serious commitment,” he said.

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), represented by Mrs Elsie Egwuatu, reaffirmed its commitment to collaborative strategies that enhance maritime safety.

“Ferry safety is a shared responsibility that requires collective efforts from all stakeholders,” she said.

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With Lagos leading by example, the Sanwo-Olu ferry safety strategy signals a new push for integrated, technology-driven safety reforms across West and Central African inland waterways.