The Lagos State Government is launching the Omi Eko Project on Friday, an ambitious, multi-year initiative designed to transform water transportation across the state.
Announcing the development on X, Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the project is being implemented by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and supported through €410 million in funding under the Global Gateway Initiative, backed by the European Union, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The Omi Eko Project will introduce a new fleet of 78 high-capacity electric ferries with capacities ranging between 50 and 200 passengers, alongside modern terminals and floating jetties, both newly built and upgraded. It will also include dredging and channel works to open and stabilise approximately 140 kilometres across 15 routes, the rollout of digital ticketing systems and smart terminals to ensure faster boarding, as well as enhanced safety regulations and capacity building under LASWA’s oversight.
According to Gawat, the transformative project will be executed in phases over six years, positioning Lagos as a model for sustainable and efficient urban water transport in Africa.
Melissa Enoch
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