NIWA Expands Lagos Jetty Network with Ghana Cargo Route and Electric Jetties for Epe Communities

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has launched a broad programme to upgrade existing facilities, build new infrastructure and open cross-border maritime routes, placing Lagos at the centre of a major expansion of inland-water transport and trade.

A key part of the programme is the West Coast Cargo Jetty Initiative. NIWA is operationalising its existing Marina Jetty in Lagos as a pilot dedicated cargo hub intended to support direct inland-water trade and cargo movement between Nigeria and Ghana. The route is expected to give traders an alternative to road transport and strengthen commercial links along the West African coast.

The expansion follows a comprehensive audit by NIWA's newly inaugurated governing board. The authority has made specific budget provisions to rehabilitate dilapidated jetties and construct new ones across Lagos as passenger demand rises. The works form part of a wider transportation agenda aimed at providing safer, more reliable terminals rather than leaving commuters dependent on informal loading points.

New jetties planned for Epe Oju Alaro, Ilamija and Abomiti will include electric jetties, bringing the corridor into the modernisation programme. For these fast-growing waterfront communities, the facilities are expected to improve connections to markets, schools, workplaces and other parts of Lagos while supporting the movement of fish, farm produce and other goods. Further technical details of the electric-jetty installations are expected as the projects progress.

The Epe facilities add to the authority's previously announced plan for 43 new jetties across several Epe axes under public-private partnerships. Together, the projects point to a larger role for the lagoon and creek network in daily commuting, local commerce and tourism as demand for water transportation continues to grow.

Alongside construction, NIWA is working with the Nigeria Police Force to dismantle illegal and unauthorised loading points. The enforcement drive is intended to move operators and passengers to certified, standardised terminals with proper safety arrangements, reducing the risks associated with unregulated jetties.

The authority has also launched a waste-management drive with Park Central Limited. High-traffic Lagos jetties are being equipped with large-capacity collection bins to clear maritime litter, protect passenger boats and keep terminal surroundings cleaner. The combination of new infrastructure, enforcement and waste control signals a push to make water transport safer and more organised as the network expands.