Lagos Launches Africa’s First Ferry Safety Training Program, Pioneering Waterway Safety

The Lagos State Government has unveiled Africa’s inaugural Ferry Safety Development and Mentoring Program, marking a historic step toward safer waterways across the continent.

According to a statement at the launch on behalf of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Emmanuel Oluwadamilola emphasized Lagos’s leadership in the Blue Economy.

“Today, we are not just launching a program – we are making history,” the adviser declared, highlighting the administration’s commitment to passenger safety as a core duty.

Over the next 18 months, 50 ferry professionals—including captains, deckhands, marine engineers, safety officers, and fleet managers—will undergo hybrid training.

The program combines self-paced learning, online mentorship, and hands-on sessions led by experts from Interferry (an IMO consultative body) and Nigeria’s top maritime institutions.

This partnership with Interferry ensures training meets global standards, fostering a new safety culture on Lagos’s busy waterways.

The adviser urged participants to embrace their role as leaders: “The eyes of Lagos and Africa are upon you.”

LASWA, under the Blue Economy agenda, is driving the initiative to build a world-class, efficient waterways system. The program is now officially underway.