Author: TUMI
Lagos, Nigeria: Improving sidewalks to enable safe NMT in one of Africa’s largest cities
This is a project case story within the framework of the TUMI Challenge 2018. With a population of over 20 million growing at 6% per year, Lagos will soon be one of the world’s largest cities. Although it is Nigeria’s economic engine, its potential is stifled by poor transport systems that make it difficult to live and work in. Although some progress has been made in improving public transport, the current network is limited and private car use is increasing. Furthermore, the infrastructure for walking and cycling is limited, and a significant proportion of the population is exposed to daily hazards by sharing the road with motorised vehicles. The Sidewalk Challenge aims to demonstrate the benefits of non-motorised transport (NMT) infrastructure through 5 kilometres of new and improved pavements. It is one of the first projects aligned with the City’s 2018 Non-Motorised Transport Policy, and will help build stakeholder support for the administration’s plans to create 900 kilometres of pavements and 300 kilometres of bike lanes by 2033.