- General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel (middle) and others during a strategic engagement with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for CNG-powered boats on Thursday …in Lagos
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) have forged a strategic partnership for CNG-powered boats, towards reducing carbon emissions, enhancing passenger safety, and lowering operational costs.
To this end, the LASWA management and the promoters of CNG for marine, RIL Hydro Kraft Limited, as well as key boat operators and marine stakeholders across Lagos State held a strategic meeting on Wednesday.
The meeting, which held at LASWA’s Headquarters in Ikoyi, was a significant step towards the adoption of cleaner and more sustainable energy sources within the inland water transport sector, according to a statement from the LASWA Public Affairs Unit.
Organised at the instance of LASWA, the session aimed to align national clean energy goals with the realities and operations of local boat operators, explore the feasibility of marine CNG adoption, and foster collaboration among stakeholders in driving an efficient energy transition in water transportation.
Speaking at the forum, LASWA General Manager, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, highlighted the strategic importance of introducing CNG-powered boats and electric ferries as part of the agency’s “long-term commitment to reducing carbon emissions, enhancing passenger safety, and lowering operational costs for operators.”
He emphasised that the waterways are central to Lagos’ future mobility plans, with energy transition a core pillar in actualising this vision.
Providing insight into the federal government’s roadmap for accelerating CNG adoption across multiple transport sectors, including maritime, the Pi-CNG team, led by the PD/CEO, Michael Oluwagbemi, assured stakeholders of strong technical support and enabling policies towards the adoption of CNG for Marine.
Also, the Chief Executive Officer of RIL Hydro Krafts Limited, Layi Solesi, made a technical presentation on the conversion process, fueling infrastructure, safety standards and the long-term economic benefits of CNG usage in marine transport.
He backed it with successful case studies from other coastal cities and expressed readiness to work closely with LASWA and the boat operators on pilot schemes.
On their part, boat operators raised critical questions and concerns on affordability, safety, engine compatibility, fueling infrastructure and maintenance.
Responding to them, both LASWA and the federal team assured of gradual, inclusive implementation backed by capacity-building programmes and stakeholder-involvement at every stage.
The meeting reinforced LASWA’s role as a proactive regulator and bridge-builder in shaping a safer, greener and more efficient water transport system for Lagos, as stakeholders expressed optimism and commitment towards actualising the vision of a CNG-powered future for Lagos waterways.
