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By Tunde Ajayi
Lagos is the most densely populated Nigerian state. And every day, millions of residents hit the road in pursuit of livelihoods. Over the years, no matter how much the road network expanded, Lagos, at over 20 million residents, struggled to keep pace with a fast-growing population. From a pragmatic viewpoint, to ease transportation in the state, mere road expansion would not cut it. It demands innovation.
That is why the news that the European Investment Bank, through its development arm, EIB Global, is committing €170 million to Lagos’ Omi Eko Water Transport Project is a relief. Though it is an infrastructure loan, it is also a vote of confidence in the direction of the Lagos State Government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to a statement by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Omi Eko Water Transport Project will establish 15 structured ferry routes stretching across approximately 140 kilometres of waterways, upgrade and expand 25 ferry terminals and introduce 75 modern electric ferries capable of carrying 440 passengers each. If successfully implemented, the initiative could increase the share of water transportation in Lagos from less than one per cent today to about eight per cent by 2032.
For a city blessed with an extensive lagoon and countless inland waterways, that would represent nothing short of a transport revolution. But fundamentally, the fact that EIB is the single largest financier of the Omi Eko Project, contributing €170 million as part of a broader €410 million financing package involving other European partners, reflects a belief in Lagos State’s capacity to execute a modern, sustainable transport initiative.
Definitely, upon completion of the project, pressure on Lagos roads would ease. Every commuter who chooses a ferry over a car or bus is one less vehicle contributing to gridlock. Reduced congestion translates into shorter travel times and better quality of life. Businesses stand to gain because employees spend less time trapped in traffic while goods and services move more efficiently across the city. In economic terms, time saved is money earned.
The environmental benefits are equally compelling. Unlike diesel-powered boats, the electric ferries planned under the Omi Eko Project are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while minimising pollution of Lagos’ waterways. At a time when cities around the world are embracing cleaner modes of transportation, Lagos is determined not to be left behind.
Also, for residents of many waterfront communities, transportation options were limited. But improved ferry services promise faster, safer and more reliable access to schools, healthcare facilities, markets and places of employment. Hence, better connectivity will create new economic opportunities in these communities that have often been overlooked.
Critics sometimes evaluate infrastructure projects in isolation, but the waterways initiative makes the most sense when viewed as part of a much broader transport transformation that has gathered momentum under Sanwo-Olu. Rather than relying on a single mode of transportation, the administration has consistently pursued an integrated, multimodal strategy designed to offer Lagosians alternatives.
The commencement of operations of the first phase of the Blue Line Rail between Mile 2 and CMS on September 4, 2023, represented a historic milestone after decades of anticipation. For the first time, Lagos began operating a modern electric rail system capable of moving thousands of passengers daily while reducing dependence on road transport. That achievement alone fundamentally altered the city’s public transportation landscape around that axis. The subsequent inauguration of the Red Line Rail further demonstrated that the Blue Line was not an isolated success but part of a deliberate long-term vision.
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Beyond the rail projects, the administration has continued investing in Bus Rapid Transit infrastructure, modern bus terminals and fleet improvements aimed at making road-based public transport more efficient and reliable. New terminals at strategic locations have improved passenger experience while supporting better traffic management across the city.
Road construction and rehabilitation have also remained central to the government’s infrastructure agenda. Major corridors, bridges, interchanges and junction improvements have enhanced connectivity across different parts of Lagos. In fact, since 2019, the Sanwo-Olu administration has completed 362 road projects spanning approximately 347.17 kilometres across the state. These achievements include both newly constructed roads and comprehensive rehabilitations or upgrades. While no city can completely eliminate traffic congestion overnight, sustained investment in transport infrastructure gradually builds resilience.
In terms of transportation, the Sanwo-Olu administration has perhaps taken its most ambitious leap in the area of water transportation. Under him, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has expanded ferry services, introduced more modern vessels and upgraded several jetties. The Omi Eko Project now represents the logical next stage in that evolution, taking water transportation from a useful alternative to a core component of the state’s transport master plan.
The project’s alignment with the Blue Economy agenda is equally noteworthy. Around the world, cities located along coastlines and inland waterways increasingly recognise their water resources as engines of economic growth rather than mere geographical features. Lagos possesses one of Africa’s greatest natural advantages in this regard. For years, it has been dubbed the ‘land of aquatic splendour’, yet the state has not maximised the advantage of its surrounding waters. But with the Omi Eko Project, Lagos seems poised to embrace modern water transportation, a game-changer, just like the light rail.
None of this suggests that the work is complete. Infrastructure projects ultimately succeed not because they are announced but because they are delivered on time, maintained properly and managed efficiently throughout their lifespan. The true measure of success will lie in whether Lagosians experience shorter journeys, safer waterways, affordable fares and reliable services years after the ribbon-cutting ceremonies have ended. That responsibility rests squarely on government agencies, contractors and all stakeholders involved.
Nevertheless, governments should receive credit when they make decisions that position their cities for the future rather than merely responding to today’s problems. The willingness to pursue integrated transportation, attract credible international financing and invest in sustainable infrastructure demonstrates a level of strategic thinking that deserves recognition.
As Lagos continues its journey toward becoming a megacity, transportation will remain one of the defining issues shaping economic growth and quality of life. Roads alone cannot carry a city projected to accommodate well over thirty million people. Rail, buses and waterways must work together as complementary parts of a unified transport ecosystem.
Seen from that perspective, the €170 million commitment from the European Investment Bank is an endorsement of a vision that sees Lagos capable of leveraging its natural waterways and building a transport network fit for the twenty-first century. This reinforces the argument that Sanwo-Olu’s administration is laying the foundations for a more connected, sustainable and prosperous Lagos. A ‘Greater Lagos’. One of our dreams.
If successfully executed, generations of Lagosians may well look back on this investment as one of the defining moments in the city-state’s continuing transformation from a congested commercial hub into one of Africa’s most modern and efficiently connected megacities.
