The Lagos State government runs a ferry service called LagFerry, which has been actively expanding and improving over the decades. However, most ferry routes are run by private, informal operators, similar to Lagos' danfo buses. Until this project from Stears Open Data, there has been no online documentation of all the private routes, schedules, and fares.
There are a wide range of ferry facilities in Lagos. The types of facilities span 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. The video below provides some illustrative examples.
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.
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. The video below provides some illustrative examples.
Our map indicates which types of boats operate on each ferry route, so you know what to expect.
Most ferry routes have somewhat 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.