Hamzat Unveils Plan To Expand Lagos Waterways, Procure 75 Electric Ferries
Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has unveiled plans to expand the state’s water transportation infrastructure, upgrade ferry services and integrate waterways with road and rail networks to improve public transportation.
Hamzat disclosed this while outlining his 100-point campaign manifesto, which includes the proposed Omi Eko initiative aimed at maximising the state’s waterways as an alternative means of transportation and reducing pressure on Lagos roads.
Under the plan, he said an additional 140 kilometres of water corridors would be dredged, while 15 ferry routes would be optimised and 27 of the state’s 47 ferry terminals refurbished.
He also pledged to procure 75 electric vessels to increase passenger movement, improve transportation efficiency and promote the development of water transportation across the state.
Hamzat explained that the initiative would position the Lagos Lagoon as a major transportation corridor, supported by an integrated ticketing system connecting rail, road and water transport.
He said the proposed arrangement would allow commuters to access different modes of transportation using a unified ticketing system, thereby improving connectivity and convenience.
Meanwhile, boat operators in the state have called on the incoming administration to introduce subsidies for boat engines, provide flexible repayment arrangements and increase financial support for operators facing operational difficulties.
The operators also appealed for the construction of additional jetties, fuel stations and other essential facilities, particularly in remote communities where access to water transportation infrastructure remains limited.
The Deputy Chairman of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Lagos State Chapter, Babatunde Segun, said inadequate jetties had continued to affect operators, forcing some to travel considerable distances to access suitable operating locations.
He noted that several operators had lost their boats or were struggling with faulty engines, affecting their businesses and ability to sustain operations.
Segun urged the government to provide subsidised boat engines and flexible repayment options to enable affected operators to rebuild their businesses and restore their operations.
He also stressed the need for sustained government investment in waterway safety, security, youth employment and tourism development, noting that such interventions would create employment opportunities, improve passenger safety and reduce congestion on the state’s roads.
Similarly, the Founding National Chairman of ATBOWATON, Dr Tarzan Balogun, called for increased attention to passenger safety, warning that frequent accidents on waterways could undermine public confidence and discourage commuters from using water transportation.
Balogun also advocated stronger collaboration among the federal, state and local governments to address the challenges facing the sector and unlock the economic potential of Lagos waterways.
He maintained that sustained investment in infrastructure, safety and operational support would be critical to making water transportation a reliable component of Lagos State’s overall transport system.
