The Lagos State Government on Friday announced that it’s collaborating with the Lagos Urban Development Initiative LUDI, to observe its first ever ‘Car Free Day’ in Lagos on Sunday, 25 September 2022.
This was contained in a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, through the spokesperson of the Lagos ministry of transportation, Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola.
Dr Frederic Oladeinde said the aim of the initiative was to encouraged to take up active and inclusive means of transport such as cycling and walking, known as Non Motorized Transport (NMT).
The statement read, “Traffic will be diverted around Alausa/Ikeja as cyclists will utilise Governor’s Office Road, through Mobolaji Johnson Ave, Billings Way, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Aromire, Adeniyi Jones, and Oba Akran Way for bicycle rides to mark the event. About 400 metres of the Governor’s Avenue will be closed for the event.“The aim of the initiative is to create awareness about the benefits of Non-Motorised Transport, including reduced environmental pollution.
“The initiative will also reduce insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviour to promote health of the people regardless of their ages,” Oladeinde said.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.The commissioner said that this resulted in reduction of vehicular carbon emissions into the atmosphere, thereby improving the quality of air, as well as increase in physical exercise and improved health practises.
“Vehicular emissions have now become a global issue. In Nigeria as well as other developing countries, 25% of the air pollution problems are as a result of automobile exhaust.
“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,” State Commissioner for Transportation said.
