Inland ferry transport in Nigeria has great potential to reduce congestion in cities, but it is seriously underused because of ongoing safety problems and operational inefficiencies. Even with regulations in place, gaps in enforcement, cooperation among stakeholders, and the adoption of technology hinder progress. This study looks at how stakeholder perceptions, institutional policies, and operational realities interact to identify barriers and find ways to create sustainable ferry transport in Nigeria. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative surveys gathered safety and efficiency perceptions from 5,000 passengers across five busy ferry routes and 25 operators from five selected companies. Qualitative interviews involved 10 regulators from Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Secondary analysis included accident reports from 2010 to 2024, and operational records were collected. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, the Relative Importance Index (RII), and thematic coding. Results show that passengers see ferry safety as seriously lacking and service quality as inconsistent. Interestingly, 89% noticed technology use, like Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and e-tickets, while 90% supported AI safety alerts, showing a willingness to embrace innovation despite widespread distrust. Operators face ongoing operational and regulatory challenges: 52% used reactive maintenance, 60% depended on informal crew training, and 60% reported infrequent regulatory inspections. About 69% thought enforcement was unfair or inconsistent, and self-assessments of route safety were low, with only 17% rating routes as "very safe." Financial issues took precedence for operators, overshadowing safety investments, with an RII of 1.09. The results also showed that operational challenges are scattered among various stakeholders. The causes of accidents indicated that mechanical issues accounted for 24% of incidents, which stem from poor maintenance practices and outdated fleets.