Lagos Upgrades Water Transport Infrastructure with Modern Pontoons
The Lagos State Government has taken a significant step toward revolutionizing water transportation by installing state-of-the-art concrete pontoons at selected jetties across the state.
Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Alebiosu, confirmed the development in a statement released yesterday, highlighting the government's commitment to creating world-class commuting experiences for residents.
Strategic Locations for Pontoon Installation
The modern concrete floating pontoons, which function as flexible docking platforms, are already being deployed at three strategic locations:
- Agboyi Ketu in Kosofe Local Government
- Ijegun Egba in Amuwo Odofin Local Government
- Bayeku/Ikorodu in Ikorodu Local Government
According to Commissioner Alebiosu, additional installations are planned for several other important locations including Ebute Ero on Lagos Island, Ijede in Ikorodu, Apa in Badagry, Mile 2 in Amuwo Odofin, and Mowo in Ojo Local Government.
Enhanced Safety and Multi-Purpose Design
The commissioner emphasized that the primary objectives of this initiative include improving safety standards, eliminating commuter fears, and providing enhanced comfort for waterway travelers.
"The modular design allows the pontoons to double as temporary bridges during seasonal flooding or erosion", Alebiosu explained, noting that this feature has been successfully demonstrated in similar installations elsewhere.
A significant upgrade from the partial installation at Falomo Jetty, where a two-sided pontoon is currently in use, the new installations feature six-sided rigid pontoons offering 360-degree functionality for both docking operations and crowd management.
Part of Broader Omi Eko Project
This pontoon upgrade represents just one component of the comprehensive Omi Eko Project – a massive €410 million initiative designed to modernize Lagos's entire water transportation system.
The ambitious project, scheduled for completion between 2024 and 2030, includes several transformative elements:
- Introduction of 78 high-capacity electric ferries
- Dredging and channelization of 15 water routes
- Expansion of 25 terminals
- Integration of digital ticketing using the Cowry Card system
The digital ticketing system will enable seamless transfers between ferries, buses, and the upcoming Lagos Metro, creating a truly integrated transportation network.
Environmental and Urban Benefits
Commissioner Alebiosu outlined several key benefits of the overall project, including reducing roadway congestion, improving commuter safety, cutting greenhouse emissions through electric vessels, and ensuring climate resilience against sea level rise.
The project enjoys substantial international support, being jointly funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Union.
Alebiosu reaffirmed the state government's dedication to inclusive development, assuring Lagosians that water transport is being positioned as a central pillar of the state's comprehensive mobility plan under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's THEMES+ agenda.
