• Says indiscriminate licences for sandfilling by NIWA endangering Lagos, residents
• UNILAG undertakes rail study tour to strengthen transport sector capacity

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the state government is committed to transforming the state into a smart, multi-modal city where water transport will play a central role.

Sanwo-Olu, who spoke, yesterday, during the ongoing two-day regional ferry safety conference organised by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), in conjunction with the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa and Interferrry, said that it is the reason the government is re-committing to making the waterways safer for all.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, said: “As we all know, Lagos is a megacity surrounded by networks of lagoons, and the Atlantic Ocean, which places us at the forefront in water transportation.

“With over 54 per cent of our landmass covered by water, the waterways are not just a feature of our geography but a lifeline for millions of commuters.”

He said that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) must stop issuing licences for sand filling and land reclamation.

The governor, however, said that the theme of the conference calls for the need to act with charity, care and compassion for the millions who rely on ferries daily.

Also, the Managing Director of LASWA, Damilola Emmanuel, said that the conference aims to harmonise policies and establish robust regional frameworks for safer and efficient cross-border ferry operations.

MEANWHILE, in a move aimed at strengthening capacity in transport and logistics sector, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), through its Department of Urban and Regional Planning, has embarked on a study field trip focused on the country’s interstate rail system.

The academic excursion, which commenced at the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, is part of a professional course requirement for postgraduate students in transport and logistics.

The field trip will cover key aspects of railway operations along the Lagos–Ibadan standard gauge corridor, with students scheduled to travel to Ibadan and return by the end of the week.

According to Associate Professor of Transport and Logistics, Dr Olayinka Agunloye, who led the delegation, the exercise is designed to expose students to practical realities in transport infrastructure and logistics systems.

Agunloye said that the institution fully sponsors the students’ transportation and accommodation, demonstrating an institutional commitment to building competent and industry-ready graduates in a sector considered critical to national development.

Assistant Director of Operations at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Nanjul Wuyep, who spoke during an engagement with the students, provided insights into the structure, services, and future of the national rail system.

Wuyep also called for increased private sector participation and innovation in service delivery.

The study trip, which is expected to end in Ibadan on Friday, will provide a platform for students to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting, contribute to policy research, and validate classroom studies through field experience.