This weekend, the waters of Lagos Lagoon will transform into a high-speed racetrack, serving as the aquatic stage for the inaugural E1 Lagos GP, Africa’s first electric powerboat race.
The event is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday (October 4 - 5), with qualifying races starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday and race day beginning around 11 a.m. on Sunday, featuring group heats, a race-off, and the grand finals.
While organizers have yet to publish a floating map with buoy locations and turns, the course is broadly described as stretching across the inland lagoon waters off Victoria Island, taking advantage of Lagos’ dense waterfront to maximize visibility for spectators onshore.
The lagoon’s generally calm surface and relatively constricted channel promise a technical challenge: narrow lines, split-second overtakes, and less margin for error in maneuvering the battery-powered “RaceBird” hydrofoil vessels.
Road Traffic Diversions
To accommodate this spectacle, the Lagos State government has rolled out a two-day traffic diversion plan affecting key roads around Victoria Island, Lekki, and the Atlantic coastline.
The 1st Lekki Junction will be closed to vehicles moving from Ajah inbound along Ozumba Mbadiwe Street.
Motorists from Ajah heading toward Lekki are required to U-turn at that junction and navigate via Yesufu Abiodun → Maroko → City of David → Ligali Ayorinde → Ajose Adeogun → Eko Hotel roundabout before reconnecting to Ahmadu Bello Way → Independence Bridge → Onikan.
Travelers from Ajah toward CMS will be directed to use Abraham Adesanya → Ogonbo Road → Okun Ajah Road → Coastal Road → Ahmadu Bello Way → Independence Bridge → Onikan.
Meanwhile, those coming from Lekki toward Ikoyi or the Mainland are urged to take Admiralty Way → Lekki Link Bridge → Alexander Road → Bourdillon → Gerrard Road → Osborne Road.
For Lekki-to-CMS routes, the alternative path runs Yesufu Abiodun → Oniru Road → Aboyade Cole → Ligali Ayorinde → Eko Hotel Roundabout → Ahmadu Bello Way.
Importantly, the coastal road will remain open during the diversions, and designated parking lots (at Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, and the Nigerian Law School on Victoria Island) are reserved for visitors.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will deploy personnel along all affected corridors to direct flow and assist motorists.
From the shore, crowds are expected to line the lagoon frontages in Victoria Island, Banana Island, and Onikan, watching electric boats take off from floating start platforms and skim over the water on foils.
Organizers hope the visual spectacle will strengthen Lagos’ brand as a global destination for sustainable sport and maritime innovation.
As engines hum silently and spectators hold their breath, this weekend’s route — equal parts technology, spectacle, and Lagos flair — could mark a watershed for water sports on the African continent.
