The Lagos State Government has established a dedicated Office of Marine and Blue Economy, aimed at driving sustainable development and improving water transport infrastructure under the federal government’s 10-Year National Blue Economy Policy.
The announcement was made by the General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, during a national television interview. He revealed that the move signals Lagos’ commitment to strengthening policy alignment, regional cooperation, and investment in maritime transport and blue economy growth.
According to Emmanuel, Lagos is not just implementing the federal blueprint—it is innovating beyond it. “We now have a national policy providing clear direction, and Lagos has taken it further by creating a dedicated office to domesticate and drive the goals of the blue economy,” he stated.
Central to this push is the ambitious €410 million “Omi-Eko” project, a comprehensive marine transport reform plan that aims to revolutionise public transport through over 70 hybrid-electric ferries, upgrade 20 jetties and terminals, dredge 140 kilometres of inland waterways, and integrate smart technologies for real-time passenger and safety monitoring.
The Omi-Eko initiative is projected to support over 100,000 daily commuters, dramatically easing congestion on Lagos roads while cutting down carbon emissions.
“These ferries are hybrid-electric, which means reduced emissions and lower operating costs—by almost 50 percent,” Emmanuel explained. “This will make business more viable for operators and more affordable for passengers.”
Importantly, local ferry operators are not being edged out. Instead, LASWA is supporting their transformation into formal cooperatives, giving them access to funding and infrastructure under the Omi-Eko model. “We’re not displacing them; we’re equipping them to grow alongside the system,” he noted.
At the recently concluded Regional Ferry Conference in Lagos, discussions focused on harmonising maritime transport regulations and streamlining cross-border marine operations between Nigeria and neighbours such as the Republic of Benin. Emmanuel stressed that Lagos is benchmarking local operations against global safety standards while mentoring local operators through partnerships with international ferry service providers under Interferry.
LASWA has also set up Nigeria’s first Waterways Monitoring and Data Management Centre, collecting real-time data on boat traffic, weather patterns, passenger flows, and environmental conditions. “We’re collaborating with NiMet for accurate marine weather forecasts. Safety is at the heart of everything we do,” he said.
Beyond easing transport woes, the blue economy agenda is targeting broader development goals such as eco-tourism, job creation, and coastal revitalisation. Already, structured heritage travel packages to locations like Badagry and Lekki are attracting more interest, with ferry operators offering curated experiences.
“Lagos is surrounded by water—it’s only natural that we maximise it for development,” Emmanuel stated. “The blue economy isn’t just about moving goods and people. It’s about unlocking the full value of our coastal communities.”
The official launch of the Omi-Eko project is scheduled for Q4 2025, and stakeholders say this could be a defining moment for Nigeria’s transport and economic future. With ongoing investment, regional cooperation, and capacity-building initiatives, Lagos appears poised to become West Africa’s leading marine transport hub.
Experts say if executed successfully, this blue economy strategy could drive sustainable growth, increase investor confidence, and solidify Lagos’ position as a smart, forward-looking megacity that understands how to turn geography into economic opportunity.