UrbanBetter Lagos Cityzens Run Leader, Afeez Odunoye documents front-row insights on the benefits and implications of neglecting non-motorised transport in the Lagos transport architecture.
Some six decades ago, shortly after Nigeria gained independence and embarked on its journey as a sovereign nation, the number of vehicles on Lagos roads was minimal. Public transport, represented by the bolekajas of the time, served as the primary means of conveying the masses of residents from point A to point B.
During that era, owning and driving a private car was largely reserved for the elite class. For middle-class Lagosians, a good life meant having a decent paycheck to meet their needs without the added worry of purchasing a car. The emissions from the few vehicles on the commercial city’s roads posed little to no harm to the populace.
Fast forward to 2024, and the landscape has changed dramatically. Hundreds of thousands of vehicles now traverse the city’s roads, ranging from privately owned cars to commercial automobiles and trucks. Lagos has had to contend with a steady increase in traffic, resulting in a complex mix of health effects. More vehicles mean a rise in harmful gases, such as nitrogen and PM2.5, which are major contributors to combustion emissions and premature deaths.
Per the Lagos Climate Action Plan (2020 -2025), 1 million vehicles travel across the state every day. That points to why Lagos traffic remains a source of concern for us in the city. The report further states that the state’s transport sector accounts for 19.6% of its total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Waste and energy sectors contribute 25.3% and 55.1% respectively.
To this problem, the 2024 edition of the Sustainable Transport Festival (STF) offered some form of relief and a way forward. For two days, September 21 – 22, Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI) through its STF brainchild-powered conversations and engagements to promote non-motorised transport (NMT) as an alternative means of transportation.
With a burgeoning population, estimated at 16 million, there’s so much to do with sustainable transportation in the Lagos metropolis. I’m convinced that LUDI ran with this in mind to partner with the data-driven advocacy movement, UrbanBetter and the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation for the second edition of STF. LUDI also brought private sector players on board in a move that I consider as crucial in widening the depth of insights necessary to tackle the problems of congestion and air pollution in the city.
But do we have a need for sustainable transport in Lagos as STF proposes? It’s a resounding yes. Some intriguing conversations happened during the first day of the festival, further buttressing what we can achieve with NMTs (cycling and walking) and investment in sustainable transport. From the government to NGOs, to private sector players, host communities and people living with disabilities (PWDs), every voice received due representation in rethinking and redesigning the current state of Lagos’s transport infrastructure.
Five-panel discussions took place on the first day of engagement at the British Council in Lagos. One of the key discussions focused on technology as a driver for sustainable transportation. The coordinator for the UrbanBetter Lagos Cityzens Hub, Waziri Mainasara, alongside private sector players, shared valuable insights on the impact of data-driven advocacy and technology in the city-state’s efforts to navigate its transportation challenges and plan for the future. UrbanBetter currently employs AirBeam 3 sensors and the UrbanBetter Cityzens app to enhance its advocacy projects, capturing data on air quality and built environment features that are transformed into actionable insights for improving air quality.
The panel titled “Share the Road: How Do We Get There?” presented thought-provoking insights on inclusion from the community of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Lagos. It emphasized the necessity for the state to continue implementing existing laws that protect and guarantee the rights of PWDs who use Lagos roads. Additionally, the state must increase investment in public infrastructure to ensure safe mobility for this critical group.
The remaining discussions explored the future of sustainable transport in Lagos, the infusion of arts into public space design, and the role of governance in driving transportation across Sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, these discussions addressed key areas concerning sustainable transport in the state and highlighted the importance of maintaining progress toward safe, inclusive, and sustainable modes of transportation.
On the second day of the festival, STF 2024 continued the commemoration of World Car Free Day in Lagos. As part of this initiative, the state government closed certain parts of Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, allowing residents to pause and experience firsthand the benefits of non-motorized transport.
World Car Free Day provides an opportunity for cities across the world to highlight how congested roads can be used in different ways. In Lagos, the closed road sections created more space for running, skating, and cycling for participants at STF 2024. The city first celebrated Car Free Day in September 2022.
Once again, LUDI showcased its collaborative spirit by partnering with UrbanBetter and agencies under the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation to organize an 8km Car Free Day Run/Bike Ride through the streets of Victoria Island. During these activities, Cityzens from UrbanBetter measured air quality along the barricaded route using their AirBeam 3 sensors, reporting positive results for air quality. Participants of all ages—young and old alike—had the opportunity to experience what it felt like to have cars off the roads.
At the event, the active transport sub-group of youth-led Children, Cities and Climate (CCC), a joint project of UrbanBetter, Ylabs, C40Cities and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) also reinforced the essence of NMT for a city-state like Lagos. This is similar to the health gains people enjoyed in London when authorities closed 200 streets to celebrate Car Free Day 2024 and the 2015 “journée sans voiture” (day without a car) in Paris which helped reduce exhaust emissions by 40 per cent.
From my observations at this year’s STF, I believe that Lagos is making significant strides in providing alternative and safer means of transportation for its residents, particularly with commendable investments in the Awa Bike initiative and the Light Rail Project launched in September 2023. However, there is still much ground to cover.
Non-motorized transport is crucial for Lagos, but the enforcement of enabling policies and the redesign of existing infrastructure—such as clearly marked paths for cycling and walking—deserve more attention if we are to achieve substantial gains in sustainable transport throughout the city.
Moreover, residents and visitors alike need to feel safe and included while utilizing non-motorized transport to reach various destinations. It is encouraging to see an increase in the number of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers operating in the state. However, this group of private sector players requires greater support through tax incentives and financing options. Such measures would help reduce the cost of EVs, making them more affordable for a larger number of Lagosians.
From all indications, Lagos cannot afford to neglect sustainable transport within its broader transportation infrastructure. There is a pressing need to raise awareness about non-motorized transport (NMT) among the populace as the state strives to achieve a zero-carbon Lagos by 2050.
Increased education and engagement will be essential in fostering a culture that embraces sustainable practices and prioritizes environmentally friendly transportation options.
