…Project to develop 15 ferry routes, dredge 140km waterways, upgrade 25 terminals
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Lagos State Government is investing €410 million in the Omi-Eko project to transform the state’s inland waterways into a modern, integrated public transportation network and ease pressure on the road system.
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, disclosed this at the 2026 Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) Summit in Lagos.
Emmanuel said the project was designed to complement existing rail and road transportation systems, improve connectivity for waterfront communities and expand residents’ access to jobs, markets and other economic opportunities.
He said more than 540,000 people currently live in waterfront communities across Lagos, with many depending on waterways for transportation, livelihoods and economic activities.
According to Emmanuel, the five-year Omi-Eko project will establish 15 structured ferry routes, dredge approximately 140 kilometres of waterways, upgrade 25 ferry terminals and deploy 78 modern electric ferries.
The vessels will have capacity to carry up to 440 passengers, while the project will also provide passenger facilities, fleet maintenance infrastructure, improved navigation channels and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Emmanuel said the project followed a two-year pre-feasibility study conducted with support from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The financing structure includes €170 million from the European Investment Bank, €130 million from AFD, €60 million in European Union grants and €40 million from the Lagos State Government.
An additional €10 million is expected from private-sector participation, particularly investment in the project’s ticketing system.
Emmanuel said the development of alternative water transport corridors would help reduce travel time and ease congestion on Lagos roads.
He cited the Ikorodu-Falomo route, saying a journey that could take more than one hour by road could be completed in approximately 25 to 30 minutes by water.
According to him, rising transport costs, limited road space, congestion, environmental concerns and inadequate connectivity were among the factors driving the state’s efforts to expand water transportation.
“Water transport can provide alternative corridors and reduce journey times,” he said.
The Special Adviser said the state’s long-term transportation strategy was based on multimodal integration, with waterways linked to rail, buses, private vehicles and park-and-ride facilities.
He said the objective was to develop one interconnected transportation network rather than separate systems operating independently.
According to him, such integration would improve travel times, reliability and passenger experience while addressing first-mile and last-mile connectivity challenges.
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Emmanuel added that better transport connections would improve businesses’ access to markets, facilitate workers’ movement and strengthen economic links between waterfront communities and other parts of Lagos.
The state is also developing a Vessel Industry Transition Programme to bring informal-sector operators into the emerging formal water transportation system.
Emmanuel said the programme would explore integration or buyout arrangements to ensure existing operators are not left behind as Lagos modernises its waterways.
He stressed that safety remained the foundation of the programme, with emphasis on regulatory enforcement, crew competence, vessel standards and emergency preparedness.
The state is also strengthening regulation, safety oversight, ferry terminal development, navigation standards, professional requirements and stakeholder engagement.
Emmanuel said a recent study identified 34 additional maritime communities requiring improved transportation connectivity.
He added that public awareness would be critical to the success of the programme because some residents remained reluctant to use water transportation due to fear and limited familiarity with the waterways.
The expansion of water transport, he said, would not only reduce pressure on Lagos roads but also support cleaner mobility and create employment opportunities across the maritime, green and blue economy sectors.
