Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), in partnership with Interferry, has successfully completed Module Three: Ferry Safety of Africa’s pioneering Ferry Safety Development and Mentoring Programme, further reinforcing its commitment to strengthening safety standards and enhancing professional capacity within Nigeria’s inland waterways sector.
The successful completion of the third module marks another milestone in LASWA’s efforts to build a highly skilled, safety-conscious workforce capable of supporting the sustainable growth of ferry transportation across Lagos and the African continent.
A total of 50 emerging ferry professionals participated in the training, acquiring critical knowledge and practical competencies in ferry safety, emergency preparedness and incident response. The module was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of internationally accepted safety practices while equipping them with the practical skills required to respond effectively to emergencies on the waterways.
Delivered throughout July 2026, the programme featured a blend of self-paced virtual learning and hands-on practical training. The academic sessions were facilitated by Dr. Bolaji Dunsin and Dr. Ayaobu-Cookey of the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), while participants also benefited from an interactive “Ask the Expert” session with Mr. Darren Johnston, Vice President, Marine Operations at BC Ferries, who shared valuable insights and global best practices on ferry operations and safety management.
The practical training, held on 29 July 2026 at the Prime Atlantic Safety Services Ltd. (PASS) training facility in Ogun State, exposed participants to realistic emergency response scenarios under the supervision of experienced safety professionals.
Participants underwent intensive exercises on Abandon Ship procedures, including emergency alarm recognition, passenger mustering, headcount management, the use of personal protective equipment, survival craft preparation and deployment. They also received practical instruction on Man Overboard response techniques, covering immediate emergency actions, bridge response procedures, vessel manoeuvring, rescue deployment and the administration of first aid.
Speaking on the successful completion of the module, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Blue Economy and General Manager of LASWA, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, commended the PASS training team, led by Senior Training Instructor Mr. Gbenga Kuku, alongside five other experienced instructors, for delivering world-class practical instruction and demonstrating unwavering commitment to improving ferry safety standards.
He also appreciated the Managing Director of PASS, Mrs. Folake Soyannwo, for her invaluable support and for providing access to the state-of-the-art training facility that enabled participants to gain practical, real-world experience.
Mr. Emmanuel further expressed gratitude to Interferry for sponsoring the landmark initiative, describing the organisation’s support as instrumental to the programme’s success. He reserved special appreciation for Mrs. Shari Corrigan, Director of Conferences and Finance at Interferry and Executive Sponsor of FerrySafe, for her unwavering commitment to promoting ferry safety and mentoring the next generation of ferry professionals across Africa.
Following the successful conclusion of Module Three, participants will proceed to Module Four: Introduction to Engine Systems, scheduled to take place throughout August 2026.
As Africa’s first structured Ferry Safety Development and Mentoring Programme, the initiative continues to establish new benchmarks in professional training by producing competent, technically proficient and safety-driven ferry personnel who will contribute to safer, more efficient and sustainable inland waterway transportation in Lagos, Nigeria and across the continent.