• Researchers urged urban reform in the country’s transportation, energy system
• ‘The project is another promise postponed by politicians’
The new Lagos rail transport system, especially the 13 kilometer rail line from Mile 2 to the Marina is expected to moderately change land use patterns along the corridor.
The principal researchers for the Lagos African Urban Research Consortium (ACRC) study of transport and energy, Yinka Jones and Lookman Oshodi, who announced this to The Guardian said, will greatly influence urban planning by reorganizing urban space.
This corridor is lined with a mix of informal settlements, industrial developments and mixed-use developments, held mainly by the private sector. There are over five million private motor vehicles (PMVs) and over 200,000 commercial vehicles on Lagos roads every day giving an average of 227 vehicles per kilometer of road. The early days of BRT buses have shown that Lagosians are willing to ditch PMVs for efficient, convenient and safe public transport.
The rail system will offer a faster, more affordable, convenient and comfortable travel experience, a transportation option, compared to road modes of transportation. Thus, the railway can easily attract patronage from commuters around the station. The Lagos State Government estimates that the Blue Line will move 250,000 passengers daily when it finally starts operations.
He said: “All these developments will expand vertically and horizontally, but the majority in an informal way because there is no transit-oriented development on purpose to reorganize or respond to the potential of new transport infrastructure.
“Development will develop in the traditional way of informality, especially when the physical development agency to manage the development of the scenario is not strong enough.”
However, researchers expect an increase in property prices along the railway corridor, as it will lead to an increase in commercial real estate activity in the area, especially along the Marina to Okokomaiko route due to increased accessibility.
He further noted that it will improve the quality of the environment by reducing the carbon footprint of the transport sector and by implication, the health of citizens, as well as the quality of life of Lagosians.
It will also promote public transport and discourage the use of private motor vehicles, stimulate economic growth, development (by boosting other sectors that depend on the transport sector, increase travel efficiency, thus, worker productivity) and create jobs in neighboring communities.
Regarding how urbanization affects the planning of the transport system in the city, experts say that urbanization makes transport planning more complicated, because the level of urbanization in Lagos is fast exceeding the level of development, which leads to inadequate infrastructure with great pressure on the existing ones. “As cities grow and become more densely populated, the demand for efficient and reliable transportation options increases.
“The situation is even worse in Lagos due to the pattern of growth, which is largely unplanned, unstructured and informal as people continue to migrate to the suburbs and suburbs in search of affordable housing.
“This, in turn, creates an urgent need for the expansion and improvement of existing transport infrastructure, such as roads, highways, public transport systems, and bicycle lanes to accommodate this growth. This lack of infrastructure in Lagos leads to traffic congestion, which can be it is difficult to move people and goods in the city.
“In addition, urbanization can also lead to a decrease in air quality, which is already very poor and unhealthy and water quality, as well as increased noise pollution with a negative impact on public health. As a result, transport planners must consider these factors when developing and implementing transport plans in the region city,” he said.
As the population of the city continues to increase, urban planners say that relevant stakeholders, especially the government, should strengthen the opportunity to bring additional investment to implement the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan, which identifies various ways to achieve efficient. transportation system for residents of Lagos.
According to them, the growing population gives a clear indication that the current pattern of urban growth in the form of sprawl development is not sustainable, so it is necessary to transform the urban architecture to a more dense and compact approach, which can be done. accommodate a growing population.
Some of the opportunities that exist to improve the country’s transportation and energy infrastructure include:
• Improve transportation infrastructure to ensure mobility and accessibility. This includes building new roads, highways, public mass transport systems, improving connectivity, investing in Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) modes, especially for first and last mile transport, and creating an integrated transport system. This can help improve mobility and accessibility for residents and businesses in Lagos. This can help reduce traffic congestion, making it easier for people to access jobs, health care, and other important city services.
• Promote growth and economic development: Investment in transport and energy infrastructure can help to attract new businesses and residents to Lagos, which can encourage economic growth and development. This can create employment and increase income opportunities for residents.
• Improve air quality and public health: Transitioning to clean energy sources, such as solar and wind power, can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in Lagos. This can have a positive impact on public health, as air pollution is linked to various health problems.
• Reduce dependence on fossil fuels: Improving energy infrastructure in Lagos can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This can help reduce the impact of climate change and reduce the country’s vulnerability to global oil price fluctuations.
• Create job opportunities: The transition to clean energy infrastructure can create job opportunities in the clean energy sector, such as in the installation, maintenance, and operation of renewable energy systems.
• Reduce travel time: Improving transportation infrastructure can help reduce travel time, which can improve productivity and improve quality of life.
Experts also believe that transport and energy transition planning is very important to create livable, sustainable and economically competitive cities in the Nigerian urban context, especially in Lagos, where population growth and urbanization have affected the existing infrastructure.
He stressed that urban reforms are needed to develop the transport and energy systems in Lagos State. “This is because urban reforms will help improve infrastructure, promote sustainable transport, address the problem of informal settlements and promote investment in cleaner energy sources such as gas and renewable energy.
In addition, it will improve energy efficiency by promoting the use of energy-efficient technologies, equipment and implementing energy-efficient codes/regulations and encouraging public-private partnerships in infrastructure development.
Improving transportation infrastructure, promoting sustainable transportation, and investing in clean energy are some of the key steps that can be taken to improve the competitiveness, accessibility, and economic competitiveness of Lagos and other Nigerian cities.
He said that the implementation of existing policies and plans in the transport and energy sectors should be considered as a priority, while institutions to ensure implementation are also important.
“The ability to involve local governments in the reform process will also be a key success factor, while the reform of the gatekeepers of the transport sector known as Agberos into an official agency that remits official revenue to the state coffers in an act that portrays Lagos as a modern economy will be a major boost to transportation in Lagos.
“With the opportunity for countries to produce electricity in Nigeria and the new energy policy in Lagos State, it is expected that the reform will progress if the implementation is carried out. In the process of reforming the city in the medium term in terms of energy, the approach of energy retrofitting should be adopted because this will be ideal for the transformation energy from many buildings and settlements in Lagos, the majority of which are in the form of informal development and slums.
In addition, he said that transport and energy transition planning is important for the growth and development of the city because it affects the quality of life and the economic competitiveness of the city. An effective transportation system, including public transportation options, cycling, and walking (mostly NMT modes), can improve access to employment and urban services, reduce congestion, air pollution and the carbon footprint of urban transportation, and promote healthy lifestyles and active.
Energy transition planning, including the use of renewable energy sources and energy-saving technologies, can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and save energy costs. In addition, transportation and energy planning can encourage economic development by attracting businesses and workers to cities.
Transport and energy transition planning is important for the growth and development of Lagos, and other cities in Nigeria, as they play a major role in shaping the livability, accessibility, and economic competitiveness of cities.
Jones and Oshodi agreed that the first phase of the Lagos blue line construction is an important milestone. However, he noted that the project is still ongoing. This is because the initial idea and promise of having a functional rail system that will help contribute to the restructuring of the city, reduce road traffic, increase mobility and accessibility, thus reducing travel time, as well as creating job opportunities for Lagosians and improving the sustainability of the city.
“Delays and changes in the project seem to be hindering the fulfillment of these promises and may cause disappointment to Lagosians, especially those along the corridor who are hoping to reap the full benefits of the rail system.
However, it is also important to note that the delay may be due to factors such as land issues, funding constraints and technical difficulties.
According to LAMATA, this is hampered by the issue of Right of Way recovery and service relocation mainly due to changes in alignment. “The lack of transparency throughout the project suggests that there are other reasons for the delay,” experts said.
From conceptualization in 2001 to planning and execution, the rail project has spanned four administrations in Lagos State, each with its own idea of how the execution should continue with the political interference of non-state actors and the increase in project costs.
In comparison, the 154 km Lagos-Ibadan rail project started in 2019 and commissioned for passenger service in June 2021, within two years. After, about 20 years, the first phase of the 13 km Lagos Blue Line was commissioned recently by President Muhammadu Buhari.