Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the launch of the first Ferry Safety Development and Mentoring Programme as critical to the State’s blue economy agenda.
He said the event underscores the government’s commitment to safe and modernised waterways. The programme, launched in May 2026 at the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) Head Office, is being delivered in partnership with Interferry, the global ferry association with consultative status at the International Maritime Organization.
Sanwo‑Olu, described the initiative as a historic milestone for the continent. She noted that the ferry sector is central to the state’s Blue Economy agenda and that ensuring the safety of passengers and operators on the waterways is both a statutory duty and a moral imperative. The programme, he said, is designed to instil a strong safety culture while building a cadre of highly skilled professionals who can lead the sector into the future.
Over an 18‑month period, fifty selected ferry professionals, including captains, deckhands, marine engineers, safety officers, and fleet managers, will participate in a structured hybrid training model. The programme combines self‑paced digital learning, online mentorship by Interferry experts, and monthly practical sessions led by trainers from Nigeria’s leading maritime institutions and regulatory bodies. The curriculum emphasises operational safety, risk management, preventive maintenance, and compliance with international best practices.
The Governor highlighted the significance of the partnership with Interferry, which brings global standards and technical expertise to the programme. She said the collaboration is a clear signal that Lagos is serious about aligning its ferry operations with the highest international benchmarks and about protecting every passenger on every vessel.
Addressing the participants, he described them as trailblazers whose performance would set the tone for the wider sector. He urged them to treat the programme as an opportunity to grow as leaders and change agents and to remain conscious of the responsibility they carry to themselves, their colleagues, and the travelling public.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to developing a safe, efficient, and world‑class waterways system. She said the launch of the Ferry Safety Development and Mentoring Programme not only elevates the profile of Lagos’s ferry industry but also positions the state as a reference point for other African cities seeking to modernise their inland and coastal transport systems.
With that, the ceremony concluded with the official declaration of the programme’s commencement, accompanied by calls for prayers, collaboration, and sustained investment in the Blue Economy. The initiative is now expected to serve as a model for safer, more reliable ferry operations across the continent.