In a significant move towards sustainable and eco-friendly transportation, Lagos state is poised to welcome 50 electric buses by the first quarter of 2024, according to Olukemi Amore, the Head of Bus Services at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
The announcement was made during the 2023 Nordic Nigeria Connect event held on Tuesday.
Amore emphasized that the introduction of these electric buses is part of Lagos state's commitment to transitioning to cleaner mobility and reducing emissions. This initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13, as well as the Lagos State Government's THEME'S Agenda.
Lagos currently operates two electric buses that have been in service since May 2023. The addition of 50 more electric buses underscores the city's dedication to environmentally conscious public transportation.
Addressing the broader context of cleaner mobility, Amore highlighted several initiatives undertaken by LAMATA. These include partnerships with private operators for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses in Lagos, participation in a World Bank study on Electric Mobility in Nigeria, a feasibility study on renewable fuel (Biodiesel and Biogas) for public transportation (funded by SWEDFUND), and collaboration with the private sector to pilot electric buses for public transport operations in Lagos.
Amore also shed light on the staggering demand for daily trips in the Lagos megacity region, reaching 22 million per day across all modes of transportation. Notably, she emphasized the environmental impact of transportation in Nigeria, citing that the country had the fourth-highest CO2 emissions from fuel combustion in Africa in 2011.
With the transport sector contributing significantly to nationwide fossil CO2 emissions in 2016, Lagos accounted for over a quarter of these emissions. LAMATA envisions operating a multi-fueled public transport network, with the Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP) playing a pivotal role.
"The execution of projects within the STM will result in an emission level less than eight million tonnes per annum, representing over a 50 per cent reduction in emissions from the 2032 BAU level," Amore stated, underscoring the transformative impact of the Strategic Transport Master Plan on Lagos State's emission reduction goals.
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