The Lagos State government has announced its plan to launch an electric boat water transportation project. This was disclosed by the state commissioner for transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi.
According to the commissioner, the new project, called the Omi Eko project, will see the introduction of over 72 new electric vessels and 25 new jetties. The ultimate goal of the project is to reduce congestion on Lagos roads while also opening up the waterways for opportunities and guaranteeing the safety of citizens.
“In Lagos State, we are starting a project called the Omi Eko project, where we will be bringing over 72 electric boats that will be plying the waterways. That will open up our waterways for transportation, and of course, directly reduce congestion on the road,” Osiyemi said.
Lagos comprises nearly 60 per cent of water, a fact that earned it the title, City of Aquatic Splendour. However, despite this overabundance, it still, quite figuratively, remains a case of water, water everywhere with none to drink.
Addressing this, the commissioner stressed that water transport is safer than road transport, while the journey time on the waterways is a lot shorter than on the roads. He, however, admitted that people are, nonetheless, still afraid of that mode of commuting and, as such, have not developed the confidence to make it a popular means. He is, however, confident that the Omi Eko project will reassure the people about the safety of the waterways, as the government is determined to use a lot of it.
See also: My UBerBoat Experience and the Challenges Uber Needs to Address
“It starts in the month of October. It speaks to putting a lot of events and getting reassurance in our waterways. We are going to be improving and doing 25 new jetties that are all electric. We are also going to be bringing over 72 electric vessels that will be plying our waterways. Those vessels are very safe, they are very comfortable, and they will reassure people and put a lot more people on our waterways. By doing so, you know, evidently, that will decongest the road, which is our ultimate goal, and then it would also enable us to use our waterways more,” Osiyemi said.
Sustainability and Lagos’ e-water project
This is the latest move in the Lagos State government’s drive to open up the city’s waterways as a viable means of transportation. Previous attempts include Uber Boat and Gokada Boat services. These introductions, which all featured regular fossil fuel-powered boats and jetties, have either failed or not scratched the surface.
So why is the government going electric at this time, especially as the country is notorious for erratic power supply, especially in public structures? Is this going to be sustainable? Commissioner Oluwaseun Osiyemi believes it is because of the ability to reduce carbon emissions and for cost efficiency.
“Yes, it is sustainable. It is the way to go as regards carbon emission; we need to reduce that. And it is also cheaper, I must say, 70 per cent of transportation operational cost is the fueling, which is the fossil fuel. Electricity will reduce that tremendously and also would have a direct impact on the cost of transportation, which makes it more accessible, and which is what our intermodal transportation speaks to,” Osiyemi said.
He also noted that, beyond the electric vessels and jetties, the state government is also going to carry out a lot of channelisation and dredging, because putting those vessels in the water requires the right depth across all routes.
“It is a project that will kick off in October, and this is just a very fantastic intro to what it is. It speaks to sustainability because, of course, it is electric. We must provide transportation that is affordable, that is accessible and also safe for our people, and that is the goal of Mr Governor and Lagos State,” he said.
See also: Lagos Government Unveils 5,000 Drones to Observe and Improve Safety of Waterways
