Lagos State, Nigeria, has launched a $410 million water transport initiative that could redefine urban mobility and economic growth across Africa’s coastal megacities.
The Omi Eko Project, meaning “Water of Lagos,” aims to turn the state’s underused waterways into a sustainable, innovative, and efficient transport ecosystem that rivals some of the world’s most advanced blue economies.
Speaking at the official launch in Lagos on Friday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described Omi Eko as “a blueprint for sustainable urban mobility,” adding that the project would transform Lagos waterways from barriers of separation 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.
He emphasised that the initiative blends innovation, clean energy, and environmental stewardship to redefine mobility across Africa’s largest city.
“We are not just improving transportation; we are redefining mobility. We are not just managing water; we are mastering the possibility,” the governor declared.
Africa’s largest inland waterway investment
Team Blue Rising’s (R) electric boat is followed by Team Drogba’s electric boat (L) as they race on the Lagos Lagoon during the E1 final race on October 5, 2025. [Photo by OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP via Getty Images] Team Blue Rising’s (R) electric boat is followed by Team Drogba’s electric boat (L) as they race on the Lagos Lagoon during the E1 final race on October 5, 2025. [Photo by OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP via Getty Images] BI Africa
According to the Governor’s Special Adviser on Blue Economy, Damilola Emmanuel, the Omi Eko project is the largest inland waterway investment in Africa, backed by the European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
Emmanuel said the $410 million initiative would deploy over 70 hybrid-electric ferries, upgrade 20 jetties and terminals, and dredge 15 key routes to ensure safer and faster transport. It will also empower small operators through a vessel industry transition program, promoting capacity development and greener operations.
“We are living the dream. As Lagos learns to move with its waters, it will discover the rhythms of its prosperity. The journey has just begun, and the future of Lagos lies in harnessing the blue economy for shared progress,” Emmanuel said.
Europe’s global gateway partners with Africa’s megacity
L-R: A foreign investor having a conversation with Lagos State’s Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. [X, formerly Twitter/@jidesanwoolu] L-R: A foreign investor having a conversation with Lagos State’s Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. [X, formerly Twitter/@jidesanwoolu] BI Africa
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, said Europe’s support aligns with the Abidjan–Lagos Transport Corridor, a critical component of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, designed to connect Africa’s economic powerhouses through sustainable infrastructure.
“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 project would cut CO₂ emissions by 41,000 tonnes annually, save 25 million passengers up to three hours daily, and serve as a model for sustainable city transport across Africa.
Nigeria–France partnership anchors innovation
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (R) welcomes Nigerian President Bola Tinubu prior to their meeting at the Elysee palace on November 28, 2024 in Paris, France. [Photo by Antoine Gyori – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images] France’s President Emmanuel Macron (R) welcomes Nigerian President Bola Tinubu prior to their meeting at the Elysee palace on November 28, 2024 in Paris, France. [Photo by Antoine Gyori – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images] BI Africa
French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, described Omi Eko as a landmark product of Franco–Nigerian cooperation, highlighting its long-term resilience in combating climate change.
“These unique electric ferries will thrive amid rising sea levels and suppress carbon emissions,” Barrot said.
With Omi Eko, Lagos joins a growing list of African cities turning to their waters for solutions, from Cairo’s Nile commuter routes to Dakar’s blue transport systems, positioning Africa’s coastline as the next frontier for sustainable growth.
Credit: www.africa.businessinsider.com
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