About the Lagos Ferry Map
Public Tech Studio launched this project in 2025 to educate Lagos commuters about the availability and advantages of ferry transportation, aiming to reduce road congestion and promote more robust multi-modal public transit. Through a new partnership, the Lagos State Waterways Authority is also contributing data on ferry operations at the facilities under their oversight.
Learn about Lagos ferries, the mapping process, safety information, and data limitations.
Private, informal transit operations are always subject to change. This information was collected in February 2026 and updates will be published on a quarterly basis. The scope of the map is primarily focused on the Lagos metropolitan area, rather than the entire state, because we are focused on reducing road congestion in the city of Lagos. However, we are gradually expanding the map for coverage of all the full state.
If you see anything that's missing or incorrect, please let us know.
This is the first-ever comprehensive map of private and public ferries in Lagos.
In Lagos, a city ranked among the worst in the world for road congestion, ferries are an underutilised and poorly understood transportation alternative. Part of the problem is the lack of information; private, informal ferries have no public documentation, and people only learn about them through word-of-mouth.
That's why we deployed a team of data collectors to gather detailed information about the routes, schedules, and fares. The goal is to educate Lagos commuters about the availability and advantages of water transit alternatives, enabling people to have faster, more enjoyable commutes.
Originally incubated at Stears Open Data, we published this project as free open data because we believe in the importance of ferry transportation and want to spark dialog about reducing road congestion by expanding robust multi-modal transportation in Lagos.
Ferry operators
The Lagos State government runs a ferry service called LagFerry, which has been actively expanding and improving over the decades. The majority of routes, however, operate through private, informal operators. Until this project from Stears Open Data, there has been no online documentation of all the private routes, schedules, and fares.
Type of facilities and quality
Lagos offers varied ferry infrastructure: from modern ferry terminals with air-conditioned waiting rooms and other amenities, to undeveloped landings where boats pull up on sand banks on the shoreline. Some locations are quite informal and undeveloped, making them a better fit for commuters who are more adventurous and don't mind getting their shoes muddy.
Our interactive map presents the full spectrum of ferry facilities and routes. The ferry facilities are color-coded based on their level of development. Pictures and links to the Google Maps pages are also provided to help you imagine what it's like at each site.
Types of boats
Within the Lagos ferry network, there is a wide range of boats, varying in passenger capacity, speed, and covered protection from rain and wind. The largest and most stable are the catamarans run by LagFerry on the busier routes. The smallest and most exposed are banana boats.
Our map indicates which types of boats operate on each ferry route, so you know what to expect.
Schedules
Most ferry routes have very fluid, flexible schedules, with boats departing only once they are full of passengers. Even the government-run LagFerry routes don't always have a strict departure time; they often wait until the boats are full.
Our map clarifies these schedules and how often the boats typically depart. In addition to fixed routes, where passengers pay for individual tickets, our map includes charter options, where passengers pay to charter the entire boat to reach any desired destination. There often isn't a strict line between the two, with private/informal operators switching to offering charter services when there is low passenger demand for fixed routes, especially on weekends or during the lull between peak weekday commuting periods.
In Lagos, passenger ferry transportation is overseen by both national and state agencies to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.
At the national level, the NIWA — National Inland Waterways Authority is responsible for regulating inland waterways, including those in Lagos. NIWA's duties encompass setting safety standards for vessels, approving and monitoring ferry operations, and sanctioning illegal activities on the waterways. They collaborate with other bodies to maintain navigable channels and ensure the safety of boat operators and passengers.
At the state level, the LASWA — Lagos State Waterways Authority is pivotal in managing and regulating water transportation. Established to provide alternatives to road traffic congestion, LASWA oversees the operations of boats and ferries, ensuring they adhere to safety protocols. All passenger vehicles must be registered with LASWA and are required to provide lifejackets for passengers. The agency conducts operator training programs and educates the public on water safety. Additionally, LASWA has deployed water guards across various terminals to monitor compliance and enhance passenger safety.
The Lagos State Ferry Services (LagFerry) prioritises its passengers' safety through strict operating procedures. All passengers and crew are mandated to wear life jackets during voyages, and the agency ensures regular maintenance of its boats to uphold operational safety standards. To enhance emergency preparedness, LagFerry personnel undergo training in survival techniques and search and rescue operations. Additionally, LagFerry has implemented a digital surveillance system, featuring real-time vessel monitoring, CCTV cameras, and geo-fencing capabilities, to bolster passengers' and crew's safety and security.
This is the first-ever comprehensive map of private and public ferries in Lagos. It was produced through a combination of data extraction from online sources and field data collection.
The scope focuses on the Lagos metropolitan area, rather than the entire state, because we are focused on reducing road congestion in the city of Lagos.
The methodology involved:
- Building from a list of terminals, jetties, and landings from LASWA
- Mining Google Maps and OpenStreetMap for ferry-related locations
- Hiring field contractors to visit sites and verify ferry activity
- Interviewing operators about routes, stops, schedules, and fares
- Recording GPS logs of ferry paths and stops
- Compiling data into an interactive map
This information was collected in February 2026 and is updated quarterly. If you see anything that's missing or incorrect, please let us know.