The Lagos State Government says holding its first Ferry Safety Development and Mentoring Programme shows its commitment to water transport safety and advancing a secure, world-class blue economy vision.
The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Blue Economy, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, said this at the mentoring programme for ferry operators on Wednesday in Lagos.
The mentoring programme was organised by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in partnership with Interferry, a global ferry association with consultative status at the International Maritime Organisation.
Emmanuel said Lagos was making history with the mentoring programme, adding that blue economy stood at the heart of Chief Bola Tinubu’s administration’s vision.
According to Emmanuel, ensuring safety on waterways is a priority of the state government.
“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to this cause with renewed vigour and ambition.
“Over the next 18 months, 50 exceptional ferry professionals will embark on a transformative journey of training and mentorship, guided by world-class experts from Interferry and Nigeria’s leading maritime institutions.
“Among them are captains, deckhands, marine engineers and safety officers,” he said.
He said that the structured hybrid training programme would be blend self-paced learning, dynamic online mentorship, and hands-on practical sessions.
“ This collaboration with interferry is a testament to the unwavering commitment of Lagos to safeguarding every person on every vessel,” he said.
He urged the 50 participants to embrace the opportunity and rise to any challenges.
The Chief Executive Officer of Interferry, Mr Mike Corrigan, said that the programme was aimed at improving maritime safety in developing regions and supporting economic growth through reliable ferry operations.
Corrigan said the programme, initiated in Asia-Pacific countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia, expanded to Africa in 2024, reflecting growing global efforts to enhance ferry safety standards.
“Workshops and conferences were held in Dar es Salaam and Marrakesh, while a major 2025 regional safety conference in Lagos attracted about 250 participants and industry stakeholders.
“The Lagos conference led to the launch of an 18-month Ferry Safety Development Programme, comprising structured modules and continuous mentorship support from an Interferry team and global volunteers.
“Interferry pledges long-term support, encouraging full participation, with plans to scale the initiative across Nigeria and Africa, ultimately enhancing safety for passengers and crew,” he said.
Mr Kelvin Abah, from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), congratulated LASWA and Interferry on the initiative, describing it as laudable.
Abah said that safety was a shared mission, and stressed that reliable water transport underpinned the blue economy, with LASWA setting a strong safety benchmark.
Also, Mr Stanley Wali of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) commended the initiative, describing it as timely and a bold step toward elevating safety standards across the maritime ecosystem.
He said that waterways safety was a shared responsibility, and reaffirmed NIMASA’s commitment to international conventions.
“Knowledge sharing will reduce accidents and improve safety,” he said.
