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As the festive season ushers in increased movement across Lagos, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have jointly launched a renewed Ember Months Safety Campaign to safeguard passengers and ensure accident-free navigation on the state’s waterways.
The initiative, announced on Monday, is expected to heightened vigilance and strict compliance with safety regulations during December’s anticipated spike in boat travel.
Both agencies called on operators and passengers to take shared responsibility in preventing avoidable incidents across Lagos inland waterways.
Under the reinforced safety guidelines, all commercial and private boat operators are required to:
- Provide and enforce the use of certified, standard life jackets;
- Maintain accurate passenger manifests prior to every trip;
- Refrain from operating commercial trips beyond 7:00 p.m.;
- Conduct routine vessel and engine checks before departure;
- Respect approved passenger and weight limits;
- Ensure only certified captains handle passenger vessels;
- Monitor weather updates and suspend trips when advised.
To strengthen enforcement, LASWA and NIWA announced that their Joint Search and Rescue Teams and Water Guards will intensify patrols across major waterways, jetties, and terminals throughout the festive period.
The agencies noted that increased surveillance will help deter unsafe practices and ensure rapid response in emergencies.
Passengers were also reminded to play their part by properly wearing life jackets, boarding only at approved jetties, avoiding undue pressure on captains to speed, and promptly reporting unsafe behaviour to LASWA/NIWA officials.
Reaffirming their commitment to a safe and reliable water transport system, both agencies pledged continued collaboration with stakeholders to ensure that Lagos residents enjoy seamless, secure, and incident-free travel during the Ember Months and beyond.
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