In the mega-city of Lagos, there is a tremendous deficit between the existing versus required walking infrastructure. The pilot improves safety, access, and attractiveness of walking in downtown Lagos. A mobile app was developed, which collects data to improve infrastructure quality. Through our intervention, the TBS bus terminal, a school and a hospital are now connected by a sidewalk. Daily, 4,000 pupils can go to school safely, and 7,000 people have improved access to the St. Nicholas Hospital. Local residents, visitors, public transport users, persons with reduced mobility, and low-income groups will be amongst the beneficiaries.
Development and application of walkability app, to measure walking infrastructure quality throughout Lagos
New inclusive design of walking infrastructure, by construction of 500m of new sidewalks and 1 redesigned intersection
Sidewalk construction has a considerable potential to be replicated in Lagos, other cities in Nigeria as well as in any other city in the world
Development of an app to rate walking infrastructure
Utilization of the app to gather data in Lagos
Visualization of collected data sets
Design and construction of the sidewalks by LAMATA
Beautification of sidewalks by local artists and school children (ongoing)
Working to advise LAMATA on the adoption of the Lagos Non-Motorized Transport Strategy (ongoing)
Development of an easy-to-use app to assess walking infrastructure, through Walk 21
500 m of safe sidewalks and 1 redesigned intersection
Creation of approximately 20 temporary construction jobs
Catalyst project that raised the debate on walking infrastructure in Lagos as well as the awareness of school children
More than 11,000 people daily benefit from the intervention
LAMATA is ambitious and well organized. Together with other international donors, they reformed the bus system in Lagos and introduced a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System. Walking remains the main mode of transport for the majority of the 20million inhabitants of Africa’s largest city. Responsibilities for infrastructure are divided between many agencies in Lagos. LAMATA‘s highly trained engineers and managers need to continue to work with a wide range of actors to guarantee the delivery of high-quality walking infrastructure.
The NMT strategy has not been approved by the state government during the project period. As in many other places, more political backing is needed to scale improved walking conditions. The vibrant tech-scene in Lagos is revolutionizing transport, i.e. companies offering Uber-style transport services on motorbikes. The city of Lagos might benefit from a dialogue with these companies.
The approach can easily be scaled in Lagos, with LAMATA ready to implement more walking infrastructure, if funding is made available. Constructing sidewalks has a considerable potential to be replicated in other cities in Nigeria as well as in any other city in the world.
The developed “Walkability app” can be used by any interested city to gather data on their walking infrastructure quality. The app offers great potential to make walking safer in cities around the world. This proved true following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, as more space for social distancing is needed.
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