Optimizing Circulation and Passenger Flow in Ferry Terminals: A Spatial Framework for Lagos, Nigeria

Ferry terminals are critical transport interchanges in coastal cities, yet many suffer from circulation inefficiencies that undermine their role in sustainable urban mobility. This challenge is acute in Lagos, Nigeria, where rapid urbanization and road congestion intensify the need for efficient water transport, but terminal designs remain inadequate. This study investigates spatial design strategies to optimize circulation and passenger flow in ferry terminals, using Lagos as a case study. A qualitative mixed-methods approach was applied, combining a systematic literature review with comparative case analysis of three international exemplars (Rotterdam, Anaheim, Salerno) and two Lagos terminals (Ikorodu, Five Cowries). Data were evaluated through five design dimensions: spatial zoning, wayfinding, multimodal integration, inclusivity, and cultural design. The results reveal significant deficiencies in the Lagos terminals, including poor zoning causing congestion, inadequate wayfinding, weak multimodal links, and a lack of inclusive design. Conversely, global cases demonstrated that integrated spatial strategies are paramount for efficiency. The study therefore proposes a Five-Pillar Framework, recommending hierarchical zoning, enhanced wayfinding, seamless multimodal integration, universal accessibility, and cultural symbolism to transform Lagos’s terminals into efficient, user-centric hubs. These findings provide a transferable framework for improving ferry terminal design in rapidly urbanizing contexts globally.