LASWA, French Development Agency in pact to set up world class public inland waterways transit system

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and French Development Agency has entered into a pact to develop public transport by 2ater to reduce road congestion

The duo in a statement added that they would adapt the transport system to climate change in Lagos mega city.

The meeting heralding the “Waterways Investment and Development of the Environment project in Lagos State” (WIDE-LAG) took place at the premises of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) on Thursday

Present at the meeting were the Lagos State government officials, the Consule General of France in Lagos, AFD Country Director and a team of transport experts from the AFD.

The project is expected to be financed by AFD and the European Union.

Objective of the Thursday meeting, was to inform stakeholders about the project concept, expected outputs and the timeline, conduct site visits with the different teams of consultants, and launch the project preparatory studies.

While the aqueous surface of Lagos State accounts for 22% of its total landmass, and more than 60% is land surface less than 5m above sea level, inland waterways transportation is expected to play an increasing role in adaptation to climate change.

Using the lagoon area, the WIDE-LAG project will implement a mass public Inland Waterways Transit (IWT) system in Lagos State.

The project’s scope will include the development of 5 to 8 priority ferry routes providing facilities such as ferry terminals, first mile/last mile land connections, jetties, pontoons, and shipyard for vessel maintenance and dredging of critical areas. It will also include the acquisition of clean-powered vessels and Information Transport Systems (ITS).

“Due to demographic growth, land constraints, traffic congestion, sea level rise and land subsidence, AFD reckons that public Inland Waterways Transit is relevant, sustainable and is meant to play an increasing role as a complement to the Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit”, stated Xavier Muron, AFD Country Director.

“This ambitious project will make Lagos an international benchmark for Inland Waterways Transit, championing with other cities like Bangkok, San Francisco or Sydney.”

Based on the design studies, it is to be completed in the first half of 2023, AFD will be able to award the funds to Lagos State for this project, which has a total targeted amount of 200M EUR.

The project will capitalize on the Future Cities of Nigeria (FCN) program that has provided technical assistance to LASWA and identified private sector interests for IWT. As a public-driven project, WIDE-LAG will contribute to creating the conditions of an enabling environment, strengthening the waterways regulation, and providing critical infrastructures to attract private investors through PPPs.

“Water is a defining features of Lagos”, said Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager, LASWA.

He added that “While it is seen as a challenge today, it should rather be envisioned as an asset for the economic and sustainable development of Lagos State.

“I am pleased to embark on this ambitious investment to make Lagos Africa’s Model Mega City through an attractive, innovative and efficient mode of transportation.”

The WIDE-LAG project implemented by LASWA with the support of AFD is an ambitious program that fits into the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) (2022-2052) released at the Ehingbeti Summit earlier in October.

The LSDP aims to create a flexible, sustainable, and efficient Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) by 2052, increasing the modal share of IWT from 1% to 10% in the total daily trips.

The project is also in line with the Lagos State Climate Action Plan (2020-2025) approach, which aims to adapt the mobility patterns to the sea level rise and land subsidence phenomena by moving people and goods by water.

This ambitious program will put Lagos State at the forefront of mobility innovation in Africa, setting the path for other western African countries sharing the same geographical configuration.