Patronage of water transportation in Lagos State has experienced a significant decline, dropping by 130 percent year-on-year to 7.25 million passengers in 2024, down from 16.7 million in 2023.
An analysis of data from the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) indicates that the number of jetties utilized for commuter transport has also decreased, with only 33 jetties operational in 2024 compared to over 40 the previous year.
Operators attribute this sharp decline to the removal of fuel subsidies on petrol products, which has led to increased transportation costs. The ongoing enhancement of road networks in the state has made personal vehicle travel more attractive for many commuters.
In the first quarter of 2024, water transportation patronage fell by 58.6 percent year-on-year, with only 1,759,790 passengers recorded compared to 4,257,511 in Q1 2023. This downward trend continued into the second quarter, where patronage decreased by 55.3 percent year-on-year to 1,810,808 passengers from 4,049,292 in Q2 2023. The third quarter saw a similar decline of 55.4 percent year-on-year, with passenger numbers dropping to 1,749,505 from 3,924,465 in Q3 2023.
Although there was a slight improvement in the fourth quarter with a recorded patronage of 1,937,546 passengers—a decline of 33.3 percent from the previous year's Q4 figures—it still reflects a troubling trend.
Mr. Tope Fajemirokun, President of the Waterfront Boat Owners Association of Nigeria (WABOTA), expressed concern over the drastic fall in patronage.
He noted that the removal of fuel subsidies has significantly increased operational costs for boat operators, making water travel less affordable for commuters. Additionally, he highlighted a troubling rise in boat accidents across the state as a factor that has further discouraged potential passengers from choosing water transport.
