Inside Lagos water economy: A dangerous and poorly regulated corridor

A road trip makes it a very long journey, so the waterways remain the only option. But how safe is it? Lagos State occupies 3,577 square kilometers with water bodies accounting for 23% of its geographical position. For obvious reasons, it has great potential to develop its water economy to a highly competitive level, to […]

A road trip makes it a very long journey, so the waterways remain the only option. But how safe is it?

Lagos State occupies 3,577 square kilometers with water bodies accounting for 23% of its geographical position. For obvious reasons, it has great potential to develop its water economy to a highly competitive level, to allow for fishery, tourism, water transportation and the likes to immensely benefit.

The commercial nature of the state has contributed greatly to the saturation of the roads; many people migrate from other states to explore the opportunities and carry out transactions in various sectors of the economy. This in turn has increased the static population in Lagos to cover 23 million people at the moment and it is expected to hit the 50 million mark by 2030.

As a result of all of these, intense pressure has been placed on the infrastructural amenities, especially the transport system.

Buses and cabs are crammed, and during harsh climates commuters are trapped in traffic gridlocks for over 8 hours. Even heavy-duty trucks that transport petroleum products from the Lagos ports to other parts of the country are caught in the bottleneck. With the number of vehicles that now ply Lagos roads, many of the interstate roads are urgently in need of repair and constant maintenance because of the strain of weight endured daily.

Considering these staggering facts, residents of communities bordering the waterways convey themselves on ferries and boats to their various points of trade in the state. This includes those in areas like Badagry, Tarqua Bay, Amuwo-Odofin, Ayobo, Ikorodu, FESTAC, Mile 2, Ijede, Egbin  and Lagos Island.

The near collapse of the mile 2, Okokomiko, Badagry expressway has forced residents and regular commuters along that corridor to explore the inland waterways from Apapa to Badagry.

Daily Trust reporter undertook this journey from the popular ‘Liverpool under bridge’ in Apapa to Badagry by boat.

Google map puts the distance at 60 kilometers each way, which implies that a return trip for commuters would be 120km. This reporter spent a total of 2 hours, 21 minutes traveling on plastic with zero safety measures.

What the citizens have as commercial means of water transportation is an open speedboat, wherein they seat on a plain wood with no covering, cruising at frightening speed and bumping constantly on account of the water current.

Hundreds of Lagosian from Abule-Osun, Badagry, Mile 2, Coconut, Agbara have no other alternative. The only option really is to use the road and spend all day traveling.

Outside the life jacket, there are no safety tips, no patrol or emergency response team, no regulatory agency in sight throughout the trip, save for a single naval base.

On the return trip from Badagry, this reporter embarked on the same trip by 6:30pm. It was dark and even more bumpy. Save for some blinking red light similar to what you have on a telecom mast, nothing more. No orientation on safety, no rescue police, or standardized operators. Half the time the boat rider is on a phone call whilst swinging from point to point.

Another obvious sight on the trip is the prevalence of massive water hyacinth often requiring dangerous manoeuvre.

The resulting danger of this kind of operations are obvious on the waterway accidents record of the state.

Around May, 2018, 24 passengers escaped death when two boats collided and capsized in the Ojo area of the state. The accident occurred at 7:45pm close to the Ojo Terminal.

The managing director of LASWA, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, who confirmed the accident, said one of the boats was driving at full capacity with 22 passengers, while the other had just the boat captain and the deckhand on board.

Twelve passengers were not as lucky on August 20, 2017. They all died in another boat accident in the Ilashe area of the state. It was gathered that the boat capsized shortly after leaving an unauthorised jetty.

The Lagos State government expressed regret that the accident was caused by overloading and the failure of the passengers to put on standard life jackets. The then Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority, Abisola Kamson, said: “The accident was caused by overloading of passengers on a banana boat and the operation of an illegal jetty.”

More recently, in July 2019, a boat was conveying 26 people at night but capsized after it was hit by high waves of water.

The Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the boat capsized due to overloading, adding that three persons were rescued and taken to hospital.

An on-the-spot investigation carried out by Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) revealed that the incident was caused by poor visibility on the part of the captain.

According to Dr. Olufemi: “A boat accident occurred at the Ipakan Boat Jetty, Egbin, Ikorodu, on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Investigations revealed that the boat was travelling from Badore, Ajah to Egbin in Ikorodu with between 17 and 21 passengers on board.

“The boat allegedly capsized due to overloading. It was gathered that the boat was overturned by heavy currents. Three persons were rescued and taken to the hospital.”

The Lagos State government has in recent times continued to express its resolve to change the face of water transportation in the state.

Recently, the state government inaugurated some boats and four Jet Skis at Caverton Jetty in Civic Centre, Victoria Island.  They were acquired to ensure safety on the waterways.

Similarly, government lately ordered the procurement of seven additional ferries, while also doing a lot to encourage private sector operators to take over terminals and also procure more of their own boats and ferries.

An official of the transport ministry who spoke anonymously said: “about 30 commercial routes have been identified on the state’s waterways for dredging and channelization, while 10 jetties spread across the state are being constructed, among other ongoing plans for the sector.

“When all the designated corridors for the ferry service become fully operational, Lagos will not only reduce excess reliance on roads as a major means of transportation, but also air pollution.”