- Secures €410 million for Omi Eko project
Lagos State Government will deploy the €410 million it secured for the Omi Eko project next year for the deepening of inland waterways transportation, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Mr Mosopefolu George has said.
He said the inland waterways will be boosted with the building of 25 world class ferry terminals, jetties and acquisition of 75 electric-powered water coaches (e-ferries) in its commitment to decarbonising the transportation sector in the state.
George, disclosed this at the just concluded Y2025 budget consultative forum, which took place at the Makanjuola Auditorium, Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo Campus.
According to him Lagos State would upgrade its existing 25 ferry terminals to world class terminals, build more jetties and acquire 75 electric-powered water vessels next year in its bid to further make water transportation viable.
The Economic Planning and Budget Commissioner said the government has secured €410 million funding for the ‘Omi Eko’ project with which it planned to develop its inland waterway. This will further integrate road, rail and water transport systems, for a seamless, affordable, and sustainable commuting experience.
The forum had earlier been held in the state’s five divisions of Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe, to draw inputs from critical stakeholders and members of the public to the state’s budget.
George said: “We are not oblivious of the fact that we need to upscale constantly, we understand what we needed to do. In the 2024 budget, we looked at social protection, so we invested in it. We were mindful of it when we were making the Y2024budget. We also know that we would carry forward in the 2025 budget.
“As a government, we know providing for them goes beyond infrastructure, hence the inclusion of social protection in the last year’s budget and we will continue to look at that.”
“The project aims to decarbonize public transportation through the development of mass public inland waterways transport (IWT) with electric ferries (e-ferries).
“It would involve the upgrading of 25 ferry terminals and jetties, the acquisition of 75 electric-powered vessels as well as 15 ferry routes cutting across the Lagos lagoon,” he stated.
Appreciating the state’s government initiative of bringing residents to contribute in the budget planning process, stakeholders called for more government provisions and intervention in the Badagry division.
Traditional rulers at the forum lent their voices, requesting the government’s intervention to some germane issues such as building of public toilets to tackle open defecation which would also serve as means of employment. They raised the issue of Climate change effect as it robs on the health of the people, noting that it would require the government to build more healthcare facilities.
The Olu of Iwa and Apapa Kingdom, Oba Moroof Atanda Amodu-Tijani Oluwa said “the budget consultation is a very good initiative by the Lagos Government. Before, it was in only three divisions, but now in the traditional IBILE divisions.
“I will reiterate that one of the things bothering Lagos is the issue of cholera. The cause is not too far-fetched, we don’t have public toilets. Our bridges have turned to public toilets where people defecate and urinate, which is appalling.”
The Oba appealed to the government to look into re-engagement of health officials like the ‘wole woles’ to avoid further consequences of cholera. He added that ‘so much revenue can be generated from building public toilets and, as well, creating employment opportunities.’
Oba Onilogbo of Ilogbo-Eremi Kingdom, Oba Moses Olaleye said: “Climate change has already started to cause problems for us, it is already affecting our health which ultimately will make the government spend more money on health facilities.
“Some of us (traditional rulers) will try to be ambassadors for those who are advocating that we must take care of the climate. It is deteriorating daily and there are some simple things that we can do to ameliorate the situation, which is tree planting.”