By Ghazali Ibrahim 
In a bold move to ease chronic traffic congestion in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unveiled the €410 million Omi Eko Water Transport Project, a large-scale initiative backed by the European Union and private investors.
The project, which officially kicks off in June, is poised to transform Lagos’ transportation landscape by activating the state’s underutilised waterways.
Omi Eko meaning Lagos Waters will roll out over 15 new ferry routes, deploy 25 high-capacity ferries, upgrade existing jetties, and introduce a central control and command centre to ensure safety, coordination, and reliability across the inland waterway network.
“This is more than a transport solution, it is a transformational project,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said at the signing ceremony held in Lagos.
“With Omi Eko, we are opening up the blue corridors of Lagos and bringing relief to our people.”
The governor stressed the urgency of diversifying Lagos’ transport system, noting that decades of overreliance on road infrastructure have led to gridlock, lost productivity, and environmental damage.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to timely delivery and accountability: “We are not here to talk. We are here to deliver. Our people deserve better, and with Omi Eko, we are giving them better.”
The project is being implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, combining €190 million in private sector investment with €220 million in grants and concessional loans from the European Union and affiliated development agencies.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, hailed the initiative as a landmark moment in sustainable urban mobility.
“Omi Eko represents what partnership should be—ambitious, inclusive, and climate-conscious. The EU is proud to support this landmark investment, which aligns with our Global Gateway strategy,” she said.
The first phase of the project will focus on key corridors including Ikorodu-Marina, Badore-Falomo, Ijegun-Ebute Ero, and Ipakodo-CMS.
With the new investment, citizens are hopeful that the trip from Badore to Ijeda which initially cost N500 and a trip from Ebute-Ojo to Ijeogun-CMS which cost N1500 might be reduced to a lesser amount.
