Last year, 21,887,738 individuals chose the waterways as their preferred mode of travel in Lagos State, representing a 55.2 percent increase compared to the 2021 figure of 14,105,816.
Ferry ridership, which encompasses the number of passenger and vehicle trips on ferries within a defined time frame (quarterly, annually, etc.), has witnessed an upswing, according to data from the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).
This trend underscores the growing preference for waterborne commuting within the bustling city of Lagos over the past decade.
A closer look at the ridership figures reveals a consistent upward trajectory from 2013 to 2023. In 2013, a total of 9,978,546 commuters utilized waterways, and this number has surged to an astounding 21,887,738 in 2023.
Further analysis reveals that in 2014, 10,345,281 passengers opted for waterway transport, while 2015 witnessed 11,067,756 users of the service. In 2016, the ridership recorded yet another increase, reaching 11,851,837.
In 2017, the number of waterway travelers continued to rise, reaching 13,787,624. A minor dip was observed in 2018, with 11,984,930 recorded users.
However, the system rebounded in 2019, registering a surge to 14,131,786 passengers. The subsequent year, 2020, saw a slight decline to 14,105,816, largely attributable to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These statistics clearly indicate that an increasing number of people are embracing waterway transportation as their mode of choice for navigating the city of Lagos, despite the challenges posed by boat accidents across the country.