An internal report by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has disclosed that only a small number of ferries currently running on the state’s waterways meet the required safety and operational standards.
The document, titled “INTERFERRY PRESENTATION,” indicates that just 118 out of the 729 passenger boats in use across Lagos comply with approved standards for public transport vessels.
Of these 118, 36 are managed by the state-owned Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), while 82 belong to private operators.
In response to growing safety and infrastructure challenges in water transport, LASWA is partnering with the French Development Agency (AFD) on a new programme known as the Waterways Investment and Development of the Environment in Lagos State (WIDE-LAG).
WIDE-LAG is designed to support safe, sustainable water-based transport, improve urban living, and reduce the environmental footprint of public transport in Lagos.
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The initiative, which runs from 2023 to 2030, ties into the Lagos State Government’s Climate Action Plan (2020–2025) and has been rebranded as the Omi Eko Project.
The report puts the total cost of the Omi Eko Project at €410 million. AFD is expected to commit €130 million, while the European Investment Bank (EIB) will contribute €170 million.
The European Union will provide €60 million, with the Lagos State Government offering €40 million as counterpart funding. An additional €10 million is projected to come from private sector contributions.