Waterways Transportation
in Lagos
Lagos is home to two (2) of the largest
ports in Nigeria (Lagos Port Complex -
Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port) with
about 23% of it surrounded by water
from the Atlantic ocean, lagoons and
creeks. Transportation via waterways is
a viable solution to improving mobility
in the city. Although currently, the large
trucks moving goods to and from its
ports are causing further constraints on
road networks and worsening traffic
The Future Of Mobility In African Urban Cities
congestion in those areas.
Transportation via waterways was largely
informal in areas like Tarkwa Bay, Badagry,
Ikorodu, and Lagos Island (to mention
a few), up until the establishment of
the Lagos State Waterways Authority
(LASWA). LASWA was set up to regulate
water transportation in the state and
ensure the routes plied by operators are
dredged and channelized to ensure the
safety of commuters.
So far, thirty (30) commercial routes have
been identified on the state’s waterways
for dredging and ten (10) jetties are under
construction to improve mobility. There
are plans to connect water terminals
and roads in places like Ajah, Badagry,
Badore and Ikorodu. These efforts, if
implemented properly, will reduce the
need for trucks in transporting goods, and
ease the gridlock around the Apapa and
Tin Can Island ports. Also, the Lekki deep-
sea port (currently under construction)
is expected to improve the mobility of
goods, generate significant revenue for
the country and optimistically, assist in
easing congestion around the existing
Lagos ports.
8