The Lagos State Government is stepping up security across its inland waterways through technology-driven surveillance, stronger collaboration with security agencies and tighter monitoring of passengers and boats to tackle criminal activities, including smuggling and drug trafficking.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Blue Economy, Mr Damilola Emmanuel, disclosed this during an interview with Hybrid News Managing Editor, Mr Hyacinth Nwafor, at the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) office on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Emmanuel said the state government was strengthening cooperation with the Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police to address security threats, improve passenger safety and protect inland waterways from criminal activities.
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According to him, effective maritime security depends on collective responsibility, with close coordination among relevant agencies essential for better surveillance, intelligence sharing and rapid responses to emerging threats.
He explained that Lagos had deployed technology to monitor activities across its inland waterways. Information gathered through the surveillance system is shared with security agencies to support intelligence-led operations and improve security enforcement.
The Special Adviser also said the government was discouraging night travel on the waterways to reduce passengers’ exposure to potential criminal attacks. He added that safety guards stationed at jetties collect information about passengers and boats and report suspicious movements to the relevant authorities.
Emmanuel stressed the importance of regular engagements among stakeholders, noting that such meetings help improve coordination, address operational challenges and clarify the responsibilities of agencies involved in waterway security.
LASWA Partners NDLEA to Tackle Drug Trafficking
The Blue Economy Special Adviser disclosed that LASWA had established a partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which has deployed personnel to strategic jetties to prevent the transportation of illicit drugs through the waterways.
He said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to stop criminal networks from exploiting inland waterways to move prohibited substances and evade conventional security checks.
The partnership is expected to strengthen monitoring at key locations and improve cooperation between LASWA and law enforcement agencies in identifying and responding to suspicious activities.
Technology Key to Waterway Security
Speaking on challenges affecting the blue economy, Emmanuel identified overlapping responsibilities among government agencies and inadequate funding as some of the major issues confronting operations.
He, however, described the challenges as opportunities to improve institutional coordination, strengthen operational capacity and accelerate the development of the sector.
He maintained that technology was central to securing Lagos waterways and creating a safer environment for investment. According to him, the state has established what he described as the first waterways monitoring and data management centre of its kind.
The facility enables the government to monitor activities on the waterways and provide security agencies with timely information to support responses to emergencies and potential security breaches.
Emmanuel said the initiative was designed to improve situational awareness, strengthen intelligence sharing and enhance the overall management of inland water transportation.
Lagos Engages Customs on Anti-Smuggling Efforts
On cooperation with the Nigeria Customs Service, Emmanuel confirmed that discussions had commenced, although no concrete agreement had been reached.
He noted that Lagos’s geographical proximity to the Republic of Benin makes cross-border trade and cooperation with customs authorities important to effective waterway management.
According to him, stronger collaboration with Customs could help address smuggling and other criminal activities carried out through the waterways.
The Special Adviser expressed optimism that ongoing discussions would lead to improved cooperation, complementing existing partnerships with security agencies, including the NDLEA.
He added that the Lagos State Government remained committed to strengthening surveillance, improving inter-agency collaboration and preventing criminal elements from using inland waterways to evade law enforcement.
