The Waterways Investment for the Development of the Environment in Lagos State (WIDE-LAG) is an Agence française de développement (AFD) funded project which seeks to develop inland waterways transportation in Lagos State. IDI and Adam Smith International collaborated in a 12-month project to produce a Preliminary Engineering Design (PED) and Costing for selected inland waterway routes in Lagos State. The PED included a passenger demand forecast, ranking and prioritisation of ferry routes, design of the ferry terminals, jetties and navigation channels and the development of cost estimates.
The OMI ÈKÓ ferry network, unfolding over the next five years, is set to upgrade 25 jetty terminals across 17 routes. The passenger ferries under OMI ÈKÓ will be fully electric, aligning with the Lagos State Climate Action Plan to limit average global temperature rise to 1.5°C, achieve a zero-carbon Lagos, with the expectation of transforming the State into an emission-neutral city by 2050. This initiative promises enhanced waterway connectivity, operational efficiency, and signifies a significant leap toward sustainable and environmentally responsible transportation practices in inland waterways.
In a transformative three-day workshop beginning on November 20th, 2023, IDI and the Consortium partners unveiled findings from the crucial study. Attended by the French Development Agency (AFD), Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Lagos State Ministry of Transport and other consultants, the presentations were very interactive and an informative conclusion to the studies. Development of the OMI ÈKÓ ferry network is scheduled to start in 2024 with funding from AFD and its funding partners.