The Lagos State Government and the European Union (EU) have pledged to strengthen cooperation in critical sectors including water transportation, infrastructure, and economic development.
This commitment was reaffirmed during a courtesy visit by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, who led a delegation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Marina.
Governor Sanwo-Olu described the partnership with the EU as strategic and mutually beneficial, noting that discussions were at an advanced stage for the signing of a new agreement next month. The initiative, tagged the Omi Eko project, is aimed at boosting the state’s ferry services and water transport infrastructure.
“As we approach the midpoint of this administration, we are committed to completing as many infrastructure projects as possible before the end of our tenure in May 2027,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor also provided updates on Nigeria’s contribution to the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor project. He noted that the Lagos-Badagry Expressway is being expanded into a ten-lane highway, with rail integration in selected segments to support regional trade and mobility.
Earlier, Ambassador Mignot highlighted the significance of Lagos as a strategic partner for the EU in West Africa. He noted that the Union, which recently marked the 75th anniversary of European integration on May 9 (Europe Day), is actively increasing its presence in Nigeria.
“The EU has over forty diplomatic missions globally, including our office in Abuja, but Lagos remains central to our West African engagement,” Mignot said.
He expressed the EU’s interest in expanding collaboration through avenues such as the European Chamber of Commerce and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He also called for Governor Sanwo-Olu’s continued support in fast-tracking the completion of the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor, a regional highway project intended to link Nigeria to Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, and ultimately Cote d’Ivoire.