Following the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and ongoing rail projects—including the Blue Line, Red Line, and Green Line—the Lagos State Government has announced another major transportation initiative aimed at transforming the city’s commuting landscape. The latest plan focuses on improving water transportation through the Omi Eko project.
Africa’s most populous city, Lagos, is home to an estimated working population of about 6.4 million people, yet it loses up to 5 billion hours of productivity and an estimated N4 trillion annually due to inadequate transport infrastructure. In response, the state has launched Omi Eko, a comprehensive water transport initiative designed to decongest roads and enhance urban mobility.
Omi Eko Set to Cut Commute Times Drastically
The state government says that during peak hours—between 6:30am and 10am and 4:00pm and 9pm—a trip from Ikorodu to Ajah currently takes about three hours. With the completion of Omi Eko, the same journey is expected to take just 30 minutes.
The goal of the project is to remove thousands of cars and buses from the road, thereby improving productivity and saving commuters more than two hours of travel time daily. Omi Eko aims to encourage water transportation by leveraging Lagos’ vast, underutilised waterways.
A €410m Inland Waterways Project
Omi Eko is a €410 million inland waterways transport initiative designed to shift mobility away from congested roads and toward the city’s lagoon and inland water networks. The project is expected to influence Lagos’ real estate market and shape the broader economic future of the state.
According to a recent report by property research firm Fortren and Company, the Omi Eko project—translated from Yoruba as “Water of Lagos”—was launched in 2025 and is targeted for completion in 2030. The report notes that the initiative aims to transform Lagos’ lagoon and inland water networks into a world-class mass transit system.
The report also states that the project is being implemented by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) with financial support from international partners including the French Development Agency (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Union (EU). An additional €10 million private sector investment brings the total funding to €410 million.
Reasons Behind the Investment
Fortren and Company provided several reasons for the investment in Omi Eko, including:
- Leveraging Lagos’ coastal and lagoon geography
- Mitigating productivity loss from urban congestion
- Ensuring a smooth green energy transition
- Reducing road overuse by shifting traffic to waterways
- Enhancing commuter experience and quality of life
Population Growth and the Need for Alternative Transport
Martin Uche, Director of Research and Advisory at Fortren and Company, projected that Lagos’ population will hit 40 million by the end of 2040. He noted that road expansion is no longer able to keep pace with population growth, which has been increasing at 25% every five years since 1965. This, he said, has forced the government to view waterways as the only viable “third highway.”
Environmental Benefits and Climate Impact
Road travel accounts for about 20% of Lagos’ emissions, making decarbonising mobility critical to the city’s climate goals. The Omi Eko initiative is expected to reduce emissions by approximately 41,000 tonnes annually through a modal shift from road to water.
Water transport is also far more energy-efficient, using up to 75% less energy per passenger-kilometre than road vehicles. By integrating electric and cleaner boats, Lagos aims to build a low-carbon transport system that reduces congestion, lowers fuel use, improves air quality, and aligns with its long-term sustainability agenda.