Boat Passengers Query Lagos’ €410M Omi Eko Project Over New High-Capacity Ferries, Warn of Major Loading Delays

The implementation of the Lagos State Government’s ambitious €410 million Omi Eko Project, designed to revolutionize water transportation, has hit a logistical speed bump as a major stakeholder group publicly questioned the operational viability of the new ferry fleet.

The United Waterways Passengers Association (UWPA) raised the alarm today, Saturday, November 8, 2025, warning that the high passenger capacity of the new electric boats could create significant operational challenges and delays, ultimately discouraging Lagosians from migrating to water transport.

The Omi Eko Project, which is backed by the European Union and the French Development Agency (AFD), plans to deploy over 70 new hybrid-electric ferries with capacities ranging from 50 to over 200 passengers.

The Chairman of the UWPA, Mr. Gbenga Oluwadiya, commended the government for the initiative but strongly lamented the lack of stakeholder consultation during the boat design phase.

Fear of Loading Delays

“I think it’s a good initiative, which we applauded, but we were not given a say in the design of these boats,” Oluwadiya stated. “Any boat that can carry more than 30 passengers at a time will be a failure on Lagos waters because it will take too long to load and transport.”

Oluwadiya pointed out that commuters rely on the current, smaller boats (max 30-seater) for their speed and quick loading times. He argued that forcing morning commuters to wait for a 60- or 80-seater vessel to fill up would defeat the purpose of using water transport to save time. “I would rather take the road instead of wasting time at the jetty waiting for the boat to load,” he asserted, describing the high capacity as “the failure of the Omi Eko Project.”

In providing an update, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, confirmed that the boats would begin arriving in batches by 2027, noting that the project is a multi-year initiative.

To address the potential logistical hurdle, the President of the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria, Mr. Olubunmi Olumekan, suggested that the government must implement proper scheduling of boat departures with fixed departure times, regardless of passenger load, instead of waiting for full capacity. The group also called for increased public awareness to attract necessary patronage to the new, larger system.