Keypoints:
- Lagos launches $410m Omi Eko transport project
- 70 hybrid ferries, 20 terminals to be built
- EU and France back Africa’s largest waterway scheme
NIGERIA’S Lagos State has launched a $410 million water transport initiative, the Omi Eko Project, in what officials describe as Africa’s largest waterway investment. The ambitious programme aims to transform mobility across Nigeria’s commercial capital while positioning the city as a continental model for sustainable transport.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu unveiled the initiative in Lagos on Friday, calling it ‘a blueprint for sustainable urban mobility’. He said the project would convert Lagos’ underused waterways from barriers into ‘corridors of opportunity’.
‘Our goal is clear: a Lagos where movement is seamless, where the air is cleaner, and where the waterways become corridors of opportunity rather than barriers of separation,’ Sanwo-Olu said at the launch.
The governor added that Omi Eko—which means Water of Lagos—symbolises innovation, clean energy, and environmental stewardship in one of the world’s fastest-growing cities. ‘We are not just improving transportation; we are redefining mobility. We are not just managing water; we are mastering the possibility,’ he said.
Africa’s largest waterway investment
Damilola Emmanuel, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Blue Economy, said the Omi Eko Project is the continent’s largest inland waterway investment, backed by the European Union (EU), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The $410 million scheme will deploy more than 70 hybrid-electric ferries, modernise 20 jetties and terminals, and dredge 15 key routes to ensure faster and safer passenger travel. A vessel industry transition programme will also support small operators to shift to greener fleets and improve service quality.
‘We are living the dream. As Lagos learns to move with its waters, it will discover the rhythms of its prosperity,’ Emmanuel said. ‘The journey has just begun, and the future of Lagos lies in harnessing the blue economy for shared progress.’
Europe backs Lagos’ blue economy
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, said the project aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy and supports the Abidjan–Lagos Transport Corridor, a regional infrastructure link connecting five West African nations.
‘Africa is home to some of the fastest-growing cities, and Lagos is a prime example. Scaling transport systems like Omi Eko will have tangible impacts on the lives of millions of urban dwellers,’ Mignot said.
He revealed that the initiative is expected to cut CO₂ emissions by 41,000 tonnes annually, save passengers up to three hours of travel daily, and strengthen the region’s drive toward sustainable city transport.
France–Nigeria partnership anchors innovation
French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, described Omi Eko as a flagship example of Franco–Nigerian cooperation, highlighting its role in advancing climate resilience.
‘These unique electric ferries will thrive amid rising sea levels and suppress carbon emissions,’ Barrot said, noting that the initiative reinforces France’s commitment to sustainable innovation in Africa.
With Omi Eko, Lagos joins a growing list of African cities turning to their waterways for growth and connectivity—from Cairo’s Nile commuter routes to Dakar’s modern blue transport systems—marking a shift toward a cleaner, more inclusive future for coastal megacities.
