LAGOS, Nigeria — The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to strengthen security across its inland waterways through technology-driven surveillance, inter-agency collaboration and stricter monitoring of passengers and boats.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Blue Economy, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, disclosed this during an interview with the Managing Editor of Hybrid News, Mr. Hyacinth Nwafor, at the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) office on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Emmanuel said the state government was strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police to tackle security threats, improve passenger safety and prevent criminal activities on the waterways.
He emphasised that maritime security required collective responsibility, noting that effective cooperation among relevant agencies was essential for improved surveillance, intelligence sharing and rapid response to emerging threats.
According to him, Lagos has deployed technology to monitor activities across its inland waterways, with intelligence gathered through the system shared with security agencies to support their operations.
He explained that the government was also discouraging night travel on the waterways to minimise passengers' exposure to security risks.
The Special Adviser added that safety guards stationed at jetties collect information about passengers and boats, while suspicious movements are reported to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.
Emmanuel stressed the importance of regular stakeholder engagements in strengthening coordination, addressing operational gaps and ensuring that relevant agencies understood their respective responsibilities in securing the waterways.
LASWA, NDLEA Collaborate Against Drug Trafficking
The Special Adviser disclosed that LASWA had established a partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which had deployed personnel to strategic jetties to prevent the transportation of illicit drugs through the waterways.
He said the initiative formed part of broader efforts to prevent criminal elements from exploiting inland waterways to move prohibited substances and evade conventional security checks.
Emmanuel identified overlapping responsibilities among government agencies and inadequate funding as some of the challenges confronting the blue economy sector.
He, however, described these challenges as opportunities to improve inter-agency coordination, strengthen institutions and accelerate the development of the sector.
Technology Central to Waterway Security
The Special Adviser reiterated that technology remained central to the state's strategy for securing its waterways and creating a safer environment for investment in the blue economy.
He disclosed that Lagos had established what he described as the first waterways monitoring and data management centre of its kind, designed to improve surveillance and the management of activities across the state's inland waterways.
According to him, the facility enables the government to monitor waterway operations and provide security agencies with timely information to enhance their response to emergencies and potential security breaches.
He noted that the initiative was expected to strengthen security operations, improve information sharing and support the government's broader objective of making water transportation safer and more reliable.
Lagos Opens Talks With Customs on Smuggling
On collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Emmanuel confirmed that discussions had commenced, although no concrete agreement had yet been reached.
He observed that Lagos's geographical proximity to the Republic of Benin made cross-border trade and cooperation with customs authorities important to effective waterway management.
The Special Adviser expressed optimism that the ongoing discussions would result in stronger collaboration, particularly in tackling smuggling and other criminal activities along the waterways.
He added that existing partnerships with security agencies, including the NDLEA, would complement these efforts by preventing criminal elements from using inland waterways to transport prohibited goods and evade law enforcement.
The state government's renewed focus on technology, intelligence sharing and inter-agency cooperation underscores its efforts to strengthen waterway security while supporting the sustainable development of Lagos's blue economy.
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