Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has called on African stakeholders to harness clean urban transport innovation and investment not as abstract ideals, but as instruments of continental renaissance.
Speaking today at the 2025 Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) International Conference on Sustainable Urban Mobility (SUMConference25), themed “Harnessing Clean Urban Transport Innovation and Investment in Africa,” held at the Balmoral Convention Center, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu urged Africans to build a continent that moves efficiently, inclusively, and sustainably.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, noted that across the continent, cities are growing rapidly, and with them, the demand for safe, reliable, and affordable mobility is becoming a necessity, adding that the continent need to be united by one urgent mission: to harness innovation and investment for clean, sustainable urban mobility in Africa.
According to him, “For Africa, sustainable mobility is not a luxury but a necessity for achieving economic development, social equity, and climate resilience. I challenge us all to think big, act bold, and move together. Let us harness clean urban transport innovation and investment not as abstract ideals but as instruments of continental renaissance. Let us build an Africa that moves efficiently, inclusively, and sustainably.”
Sanwo-Olu further noted that the conference aligns with the United Nations’ forthcoming Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035), a global initiative urging governments, cities, and citizens to develop transport systems that are safe, inclusive, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient.
He emphasized that Africa cannot afford to be a spectator in this movement, as the continent is urbanizing faster than any other region in the world. “By 2050, over 1.3 billion Africans will live in cities. How we move those people cleanly, affordably, and equitably will determine whether our growth is sustainable or self-defeating,” he said.
He emphasized that the journey has not been easy; it demanded political courage, financial creativity, institutional resilience, and partnerships that crossed continents. “Yet we persevered, and in doing so, Lagos demonstrated what is possible when African cities believe in themselves. This transformation is still unfolding in our Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, our ferry terminals, our smart ticketing systems, and our upcoming electric bus pilot. Each project tells a story,” said the Governor.
The Governor noted that Lagos is proud to be among the first African cities to deploy a citywide sensor network, coordinated by LAMATA and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), to track urban transport-induced emissions in real-time. “This conference must move us closer to a continental Air Quality Alliance linking African cities in a shared platform of open data for clean air,” Sanwo-Olu said.
In his address, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, reiterated that the state is committed to driving Africa’s clean and sustainable transport revolution, adding that the convergence of critical stakeholders and decision-makers from across the continent continues to address the challenges of opportunities shaping Africa’s transportation future.
The Commissioner noted that Africa’s rapid urbanization presents both great challenges and tremendous opportunities for sustainable development. “As our cities grow, we must prioritize clean, affordable, and efficient mobility for all,” he said.
Highlighting the enormous potential of clean transport investment across Africa, Osiyemi noted that sustainable mobility is key to improving air quality, reducing congestion, and promoting economic growth, pointing to several African cities, such as Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Accra, and Lagos, that are already implementing electric mobility initiatives, non-motorized transport infrastructure, and multimodal public systems.
In her welcome address, the Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo stated that the conference is in partnership with sustainable development partners to serve as a knowledge hub for policymakers, planners, engineers, researchers, operators, and other key stakeholders at both national and sub-national levels in Nigeria.
She recalled that in 2024, Lagos State Government, through LAMATA, formally institutionalized an annual conference on sustainable urban mobility.
The Managing Director said, “LAMATA henceforth made a milestone decision from 2025 onwards to incorporate international stakeholder participation, especially from Africa, into the SUMConference framework. This is geared towards fostering synergy, cooperation, commitment, and unity among African governments, businesses, and communities to adopt sustainable transport practices, reduce carbon footprints, and promote renewable energy sources.”
She added that the main objective of SUMCourse workshops was to continue building institutional and organizational capacity of the different executing state ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), local governments, and to coordinate their activities towards achieving a common and consistent policy basis for sustainable transport development in Lagos.
