BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
A new vista for water transport in Lagos is being opened as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), collaborate to run safer and eco-friendly ferry services.
To this end, the NiMET Director General, Professor Charles Anosike hosted a delegation from LAWSA led by its General Manager, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, to explore ways to integrate NiMet’s real-time meteorological data into LASWA’s operations to boost safety on Lagos waterways, streamline ferry schedules and advance weather-driven transport planning across the state.
Speaking during the visit, Mr. Emmanuel stressed the critical role of accurate weather information in water transport.
“We are dedicated to making Lagos waterways safer and more reliable. Having NiMet’s data at our disposal will greatly enhance our ability to make informed operational decisions,” he said.
Both agencies also discussed the prospect of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize the partnership and strengthen technical collaboration.
Professor Anosike described the proposed alliance as a strategic move to safeguard lives and optimize operations.
“This partnership goes beyond data exchange. It is about improving ferry routing, minimizing weather-related disruptions, and building greater public trust in water transport,” he noted.
The collaboration will also prioritise operator training and public sensitization as key components of safer and more efficient ferry services in Lagos.
