By Oluyinka Onigbinde
Boat passengers and operators across Lagos waterways have raised alarm over a sharp increase in transport fares following the recent surge in fuel prices, with water transportation costs reportedly jumping by over 50 percent, forcing commuters to adjust or abandon daily boat travel.
Our correspondent gathered that a trip from Ikorodu to Lagos Island, one of the busiest inland water routes in the state, has risen from about N2,000 to as high as N4,000 per passenger, depending on the terminal and time of travel. While Marina to Apapa that used to cost N400 now cost N700 per trip
Operators say the increase has become unavoidable, due to rising operational costs, especially fuel consumption, engine maintenance, and logistics.
Speaking in an interview, the Secretary of the Lagos State Chapter of the Association of Tourist Boats and Water Transport Operators of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Ayomikun Aworetan, explained that the economics of boat operations have changed drastically since the fuel price adjustments, noting that operators are now spending far more to sustain daily movement.
According to him, a single boat trip that previously required about 15 litres of fuel can now consume as much as 35 litres on the same route, depending on water conditions, load, and engine performance.
“You can see the difference is almost 20 litres. When you quantify that against current fuel prices, it becomes a very heavy operational burden,” he said.
Aworetan added that beyond fuel, operators are also struggling with maintenance costs, engine servicing, and general repairs, all of which have increased in recent months. He noted that many operators are now forced to reduce their daily trips due to low passenger turnout and high running costs.
“As we speak now, average fare from Ikorodu to the Island is about N3,500 to N4,000,” he said. “If a passenger returns the same day, that is another N3,500 or more. When you add feeder transport from home to the jetty and from the terminal to final destinations, a commuter may spend close to N10,000 in a single day on transport alone.”
He argued that such costs are no longer sustainable for the average Nigerian worker, especially those earning minimum wage or slightly above it.
“How many people can afford that daily? If someone earns about N70,000 monthly, transport alone can consume over N200,000 in a month if they commute every working day. It is simply not realistic,” he added.
The ATBOWATON secretary further warned that operators themselves are struggling to recover investments, noting that a standard passenger boat with engine setup costs as much as N15 million. With reduced patronage, he said, many operators can only afford two or three trips per week instead of daily operations.
“Our boats are not moving as frequently as before. Passenger turnout has dropped, and that affects revenue. We are not getting returns on investment,” he said.
He also explained that government intervention projects such as LAGFERRY schemes and subsidised boat services, including Omi Eko initiatives, while helpful in principle, have not fully resolved the sector’s challenges due to high implementation and operational costs.
“Government-owned ferries are subsidised, but private operators are still struggling with fuel and maintenance. Even when intervention boats are provided, the cost of acquisition and operation remains high,” he noted.
On possible government support, Aworetan said operators are calling for subsidies, particularly in fuel or operational grants, to stabilise the sector and prevent further fare increases.
At the jetty in Marina, passengers expressed frustration over the rising cost of water transportation.
A trader, Mrs. Funmilayo Ogunleye, who commutes daily to Lagos Island, said she may be forced to reduce her trips.
“I used to spend about N2,000 before. Now it is N4,000 one way. If I go and come back, that is already N8,000. It is too much. I may have to stop coming every day,” she said.
Another passenger, Mr. Tunde Balogun, described the situation as “punishing for ordinary workers.”
“We are not even talking about comfort anymore. It is about survival. Some of us may have to go back to road transport even if it is slower, because water transport is becoming too expensive,” he said.
Boat owners say urgent intervention is needed to prevent further disruption to one of the state’s key transport alternatives.
