The Lagos State Government says it is collaborating with the Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI) to observe the first ever ‘Car Free Day’ in Lagos on Sunday.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, said this in a statement through the Deputy Director, Public Affairs Unit of the Ministry, Mrs. Bolanle Ogunlola, in Lagos on Friday.
Oladeinde said the initiative was to create awareness about the benefits of active and inclusive means of transport such as cycling and walking, known as Non Motorised Transport (NMT).
“The aim of the initiative is to create awareness about the benefits of Non Motorised Transport, including reduced environmental pollution,” he said.
“The initiative will also reduce insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviour to promote the health of the people regardless of their ages.”
He cited the significant drop in air pollution recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, when movement was curtailed and many private cars and public vehicles were off the roads. He said that this resulted in the reduction of vehicular carbon emissions into the atmosphere, thereby improving the quality of air, as well as an increase in physical exercise and improved health practices.
“Vehicular emissions have now become a global issue. In Nigeria as well as other developing countries, 25 percent of the air pollution problems are as a result of automobile exhaust,” he added.
“This is very evident in the number of unroadworthy, smoky vehicles plying our roads on daily basis, causing not just health issues but visibility problems and sometimes accidents.”
He also mentioned that the event provides cities and governments the opportunity to do more in advancing public transport systems which could be run more efficiently through the provision of a viable, reliable alternative to cars in the urban areas.
The commissioner said that this could also be done by implementing Non Motorised Transport, whereby walking, cycling, and inclusive mobility were given priority.
Oladeinde who said the event was coordinated by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation along with other Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Lagos Urban Development Initiative, noted that the event was necessary to continuously enlighten the citizenry on the importance of environmental health.
He urged motorists to prepare to join the rest of the world in observing the Car Free Day, adding that hundreds of people were expected.
He urged participants to be at the Alausa, Ikeja venue where many fun and exciting activities such as cycling, cycling training, cycling competitions, skating, stretches, music, and dance would take place.
Oladeinde said that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority would work hand in hand with the Nigeria Police Force to manage vehicular movement on the diversion routes.
He pleaded with the motoring public to cooperate with the interventions put in place to minimise inconveniences. “Nigeria and other African countries, in my view, therefore need debt relief. They cannot run up the hill carrying a backpack full of sand,” he said.
