By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, has warned that regulatory jurisdiction and poor coordination between the Federal Government and Lagos State could undermine the planned €410 million waterborne public transport project in Lagos.
Agbakoba raised the concern in a statement posted on his X handle on Friday after attending a sensitisation session on the development of waterway transport in Lagos.
The session was attended by representatives of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), including its officials, as well as the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Blue Economy, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, and Ms. Oyindamola Ade-Alli.
According to Agbakoba, Lagos is entering a new phase of investment in water transportation, with the €410 million project expected to introduce new ferry routes, upgrade terminals and deploy electric vessels as part of efforts to establish a large-scale inland waterways transport network.
However, he said the success of the initiative could depend more on resolving regulatory and institutional issues than on engineering.
“The biggest obstacle to progress is not engineering but rather regulatory jurisdiction,” Agbakoba stated.
He noted that Lagos has three major modes of transportation — road, rail and water — but argued that water transport had been neglected for decades despite its potential to significantly reduce road congestion in the state.
Agbakoba attributed part of the challenge to the overlapping responsibilities of the Federal Government and Lagos State over the waterways.
He said coastal waters are under federal control while Lagos State is simultaneously pursuing its own waterway development agenda, creating a situation where two levels of government oversee the same waterways without a clearly defined framework for harmonising their plans.
“This overlap poses significant risks to every jetty concession, ferry licence, and infrastructure investment proposed in this area,” he warned.
The former Nigerian Bar Association president identified five major challenges confronting the proposed development.
They include low public awareness and ineffective communication; regulatory jurisdiction and intergovernmental coordination; potential conflicts between government entities; commuter behaviour and adoption; as well as infrastructure and last-mile connectivity.
To address the challenges, Agbakoba proposed measures including the introduction of congestion fees, development of robust infrastructure, seamless intermodal transport solutions and clear public communication campaigns.
He also advocated greater private-sector participation and financing partnerships, stressing the need for policies and incentives capable of attracting private investment and expertise to rapidly expand water transport infrastructure.
According to him, while the proposed solutions could help unlock the potential of water transportation in Lagos, progress would remain constrained until the Federal Government and Lagos State clearly agree on their respective roles.
“Lagos has successfully resolved coordination issues in the past; this situation requires the same level of discipline,” he said.
Agbakoba stressed that the jurisdictional question should be resolved before substantial capital begins to flow into the sector, rather than allowing disagreements to emerge after investments have been made.
He said early resolution of the regulatory issues would provide greater certainty for investors and help ensure the success of the proposed water transport network.
