- Praises German govt for funding pilot project on Lagos Island CBD
Lagos State Government has said its delivery of the pilot phase of the Non Motorised Transportation (NMT) on on the Lagos Central Business District is a demonstration of it’s commitment to delivering more safer roads for its people.
The Commissioner of Transportation Dr Frederic Oladeinde disclosed this at the Stakeholders dissemination on the Lagos sidewalk pilot project at the Park Inn by Radisson, Lagos.
The sidewalk stretched from Catholic Mission Street/St Nicholas Hospital/Tafawa Balewa Square.
Oladeinde while praising the German government which through its development agency, Deutsche Gessellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), provided the funds for the pilot project said with it, the Lagos State Government has underscored it’s commitment to ensuring safer roads for all classes s f categories of users.
He said Non Motorised Transportation will help upscale access to public sector transportation by more Lagosians.
Describing on Motorised Transportation (NMT) as a critical element of the modes of transportation, as it relates to the first and the last Mile movements to and from the stations to their homes, Oladeinde said government’s intention is to make the roads safer and more inclusive to all.
He said last year, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu not only signed the draft NMT, he established the NMT Implementation Committee to signpost the focus of the administration in its drive for more inclusivity of the roads as a shared asset by all.
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Oladeinde said government will embark on massive sensitisation towards ensuring that traders and transport unions does not constitute nuisance on the dedicated lanes provided for the purpose of ensuring safe use of the roads by pedestrians and bikers riding their bicycles.
He said: “Since research has shown that a third of all trips carried out daily in Lagos are done by NMT, what we wanted to do is to encourage many more people to be attracted to walking and cycling to reduce carbon emissions and to promote their health. It is also to demonstrate the commitment of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to the safety of pedestrians.”
He said the government prioritised the St Nicholas Hospital/TBS because of its strategic importance to the country being home to Kings College, the Federal High Court, Federal Court of Appeal, Office of the Federal Controller of Works, the Tafawa Balewa Square and other iconic institutions.
LAMATA’s Technical Adviser Corporate and Investment, Agbonzegbe Osa Konyeha said the project was berthed as a result of the state being one of the 10 cities selected as winner of the inaugural Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI), with a grant to develop and implement a sidewalk project in Lagos.
He said the five kilometre sidewalk is the most walked part of Lagos Island CBD, with the sidewalk enhancing the walkability.
He disclosed that the project involved proved pedestrian walkway, traffic system management and artistic murals to relieve the eyes and make the environment more lively.
LAMATA’s Managing Director Engr Mrs Abimbola Akinajo said the delivery of the project is another demonstration of the government’s commitment to all segments and classes of her people.
She asked the people to continue to bear with the pains associated with the ongoing projects by the government adding that she often describe Lagos as an expectant mother whose very advanced pregnancy, can only deliver bundles of joy for the people for which they were meant.
Critical stakeholders including Director Centre for Intermodal Transportation Studies, University of Lagos, Prof. Iyiola Oni, Dean of the School of Transportation, Lagos State University, Prof. Charles Asenimen, Director Lagos Resilience Office Dr Folayinka Dania, former Commissioner of Transportation, Hon. Ladi Lawanson, among others commended the government for its strong commitment to the development of a virile NMT system in the state.
They charged the government to ensure the total removal of all encumbrances among them illegal trading, illegal parking, and illegal structures of all sorts and drainages are permanently removed in order to ensure the sustainability of the NMT, especially, as it planned to introduce the NMT across the state.
Stakeholders at the event cut across related Ministries Agencies and Departments of government, the academia, LASTMA, Nigeria Police, Local Governments officials, civil society groups, the GIZ, and host of others.