Between January and June 2026, Lagos waterways registered 2.5 million passenger journeys, marking a 6.7 percent rise compared to the 2.3 million movements seen in the same period of 2025. The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) released these figures while predicting a total of five million passengers by the conclusion of the year.
Damilola Emmanuel, the General Manager of LASWA, noted that growth was tempered by high global fuel costs, which pushed up operating expenses and ticket prices. Despite this, the outlook for the sector remains bright. The state government plans to introduce OMIBUS electric-powered boats, which are intended to lower operational costs and allow for more reasonable fares for daily commuters.
These electric vessels are also part of a broader strategy to embrace sustainable transit solutions. By cutting fuel dependency, authorities hope operators will upgrade their services and provide better value to riders. LASWA believes that ongoing investments in safety and infrastructure will further bolster the industry. Statistics show that June 2026 saw the highest traffic during the half-year period, with 467,854 passengers. Of the total 2.5 million trips made this year, 1,493,645 were by male passengers and 995,763 by female passengers.
