Sanwo-Olu Unveils €410m Omi-Eko Project to Transform Lagos Water Transport

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially launches the €410 million Omi-Eko Waterways Project which serves as a landmark initiative funded by the European Union to revolutionise water transportation across the state.

The ambitious project, to be implemented by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), aims to provide sustainable, efficient, and eco-friendly transport alternatives for millions of Lagos residents. It will feature 70 hybrid electric ferries, 25 modern ferry terminals and jetties with charging stations, and 140 kilometres of dredged and marked ferry routes connecting key parts of the state.

Funding for Omi-Eko comes through the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative, with support from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), which approved a subsidised €360 million loan for the project. Completion is expected by 2030.

Sanwo-Olu described the project as a bold step toward a cleaner, faster, and more inclusive Lagos. He said the Omi-Eko project would transform waterways from barriers into corridors of opportunity, positioning Lagos ahead in sustainable urban mobility.

LASWA Managing Director and Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Damilola Emmanuel, said the project would usher in a new era of clean and smart mobility, building a water-based economy that benefits operators, passengers, and investors.

Oshuniran Sheriff Ola