Lagos, Africa’s most dynamic megacity, is embarking on another transformative journey, one that will redefine how its people move, work, and breathe. With the launch of the €410 million Omi Èkó Project, the Lagos State Government has set sail on an ambitious mission to turn the city’s vast waterways into engines of sustainable mobility and economic growth. This bold step is not just about ferries; it is about vision, courage, and a future powered by innovation.
Derived from the Yoruba phrase “Omi Èkó” meaning “Lagos Water”, the project represents one of the most forward-looking public transport initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. It will introduce 78 fully electric ferries, upgrade or construct 25 modern terminals, and dredge 15 major waterways spanning approximately 140 kilometres across the Lagos Lagoon and adjoining creeks. Together, these interventions will create a safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative to the city’s overburdened road network, serving millions of commuters daily.
The financing structure itself reflects global confidence in Lagos’s capacity and credibility. The European Investment Bank (EIB), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Union (EU) are co-funding the initiative alongside the Lagos State Government and private investors, a partnership worth €410 million. Of this, €360 million comes from international development partners, €40 million from the state, and €10 million from local private-sector participation. Construction is expected to begin in 2025, with phased delivery through 2030.
For a city of over 20 million residents, where more than 70% of movement happens via roads, the implications are profound. Traffic congestion costs Lagos billions of naira in lost productivity every year. According to the World Bank, commuters in Lagos spend an average of four hours daily in traffic, one of the highest in the world. The Omi Èkó Project aims to reduce commuting time on key corridors by up to 40%, while slashing carbon emissions through the deployment of zero-emission electric vessels.
But what truly elevates Omi Èkó is how it positions Lagos among the world’s pioneers of green maritime mobility. In Norway, the Ampere electric ferry transformed coastal transport by cutting fuel costs by 80% and eliminating nearly all emissions. In Amsterdam, electric ferries glide silently across canals, fully integrated with the city’s digital ticketing and metro systems. London is transitioning its Thames Clippers to hybrid-electric fleets, and Stockholm is experimenting with hydrofoil ferries that halve energy use.
Lagos’s model, however, is remarkable for its scale and scope. While these cities began with smaller pilot projects often deploying fewer than ten electric vessels, Lagos plans to launch 78 ferries from the start, instantly making it one of the largest electric ferry programs in the world. For a developing city, this scale signals a new level of ambition: a declaration that African urban centres can lead in clean technology adoption, not merely follow.
Each ferry terminal under the Omi Èkó blueprint will be a modern hub, featuring passenger lounges, renewable-powered charging stations, digital Cowry Card integration, and intelligent transport systems that provide real-time safety monitoring and scheduling. Dredging works will not only improve navigation but also rejuvenate coastal communities, open new economic corridors, and enhance waterfront real estate values. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs during construction and sustain long-term employment in logistics, marine services, and renewable energy sectors.
For investors, the opportunity extends far beyond transportation. The project opens a gateway into green energy infrastructure, marine engineering, technology integration, and urban renewal. The supporting ecosystem- from ferry manufacturing and maintenance to digital payments, solar installations, and waterfront property development, presents diverse, long-term investment potential. Lagos’s proven governance structure and established PPP framework make it an attractive environment for such partnerships.
Importantly, the Omi Èkó Project is not an isolated gesture. It builds on a consistent pattern of delivery by the Lagos State Government that has so far demonstrated rare continuity and execution discipline - completing major projects like the Blue and Red Rail Lines, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, and the Lekki-Epe Expressway expansion, alongside over 60 new roads and five bridges completed in a single year.
This consistent delivery record has bolstered Lagos’s credibility with international financiers. Institutions such as the World Bank, AFD, and EIB now see Lagos as a model for how African sub-nationals can attract and manage climate-aligned investment responsibly. In an era where sustainable financing is rapidly expanding, Lagos’s proactive approach has made it one of the few African cities ready to tap into the growing pool of green and climate bonds.
Challenges remain from ensuring stable power for ferry charging infrastructure to managing dredging operations responsibly and keeping fares affordable for everyday commuters. Yet, these are the same obstacles faced by global cities when pioneering new systems. What Lagos has consistently shown is the will to adapt, innovate, and deliver practical solutions, often through strategic partnerships and homegrown ingenuity.
More than an infrastructure project, Omi Èkó represents a philosophical shift, a city rediscovering its natural geography and using it to solve modern problems. The lagoon, once merely a backdrop to the city’s skyline, will once again become its lifeline. With electric ferries cutting silently across its surface, Lagos will move differently, breathe cleaner air, and reclaim hours once lost in traffic.
For investors, entrepreneurs, and global partners, the message is clear: Lagos is not just open for business, it is shaping the future of sustainable urban living in Africa.
When the first ferry begins its journey, it will symbolize far more than transportation. It will carry the proof that vision, governance, and partnership can turn even the busiest, most complex city into a global model of smart and sustainable progress.
The Omi Èkó Project is not just Lagos’s next big move, it is the dawn of a cleaner, faster, and smarter era, powered by the same restless spirit that has always defined the city: the Lagos spirit-bold, resilient, and unafraid to lead.
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