Cargo Barge Sinks Near Mile 2, Disrupting Waterway Traffic

By Ewrhujakpor Godfrey Bivbere 

Harboursandport.com: Lagos, Nigeria - July 26, 2025: A barge loaded with what is suspected to be industrial chemicals sank Friday morning near the Mile 2 waters as it attempted to berth at a bonded terminal owned by Clarion Shipping.

Salvage operation underway as crane lifts sunken chemical-laden barge. Photo by Harboursandport.com.

The exact cause of the incident remains unclear, but sources at Harboursandport.com suggest that a possible shift in the cargo’s positioning during maneuvering may have led to the mishap. As of Friday evening, parts of the barge had already submerged, with recovery efforts underway to salvage some of the cargo.

Notably, there was no presence of state or federal government agencies at the scene.

The incident occurred in an area densely packed with maritime traffic, where roughly seven jetties operate—four of which are near the Lagos State ferry route to CMS Island. Barges, ferries, and various small crafts frequently converge in this zone, narrowing the navigation channel for vessels traveling between Festac, Mile 2, Apapa, and CMS.