Lagos has again taken the continental spotlight as it hosts the 2025 International Conference on Sustainable Urban Mobility (SUMConference25), a landmark platform convened by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to drive Africa’s transition toward cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive transport systems.
The conference with the theme: “Harnessing clean urban transport innovation and investment in Africa.” brings together policymakers, financiers, engineers, and development partners from across the continent to explore sustainable pathways for transforming urban mobility through innovation and strategic investment.
Declaring the summit open, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, described clean transport as “a prerequisite for competitiveness and public health, not a luxury.” He said the conference should not be seen merely as an event but as “a foundational movement for continental renaissance” anchored on sustainable mobility.
“This conference represents a defining moment for Africa’s cities,” he said. “We must harness innovation and direct investment towards building transport systems that are climate-smart, people-focused, and future-ready. Lagos is leading this charge with policies that promote electric mobility, CNG adoption, and sustainable transport integration.”
Sanwo-Olu noted that the rapid urbanisation confronting African cities also presents a rare opportunity to lead the global clean-transport revolution. He cited the successes of Dakar’s Electric Bus Rapid Transit and Kigali’s cycling lanes as examples of African ingenuity that prove sustainable mobility is achievable on the continent.
“Our goal,” he said, “is to create an African Platform for Sustainable Mobility that will harmonize standards, pool resources, and advocate fair financing for clean transport development.”
The Managing Director of LAMATA, Engr. (Mrs.) Abimbola Akinajo, underscored the significance of the gathering, describing it as a shift “from dialogue to concrete action.” She said the conference was conceived to turn shared ideas into measurable outcomes that advance Africa’s clean mobility agenda.
“This platform is not just about talk,” she said. “It is about collaboration, innovation, and investment that can make clean transport achievable and profitable across the continent. Our responsibility is to forge a future defined by efficiency, equity, and sustainability.”
Akinajo outlined LAMATA’s commitment to scaling up clean transport technologies, including compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric buses, and to promoting initiatives such as SHE-CAN, which prioritizes safety and inclusiveness in urban mobility.
She noted that the summit, which evolved from the Africa Sustainable Mobility Course hosted in 2022 and 2023, has grown into a full-scale international dialogue aligning with the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035). “We are creating a continental network of actors committed to low-carbon transport systems that support social inclusion and economic resilience,” she said.
In his remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to policies that align with global sustainability standards. “Our goal is to ensure that transport in Lagos evolves with technology and environmental responsibility at its core,” he said. “Through strategic planning, we are integrating electric vehicles, expanding CNG infrastructure, and modernising traffic management to make Lagos a clean, efficient, and resilient megacity.”
The high-level attendance reflected the growing momentum behind the clean mobility agenda. Dignitaries present included the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Transport, Hon. Temitope Adewale; Commissioner for Transport, Ogun State, Hon. Gbenga Dairo; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa; General Manager, LASPARK, Mrs. Adetoun Ibilola; and General Manager, LASPA, Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu.
Delegates from more than 12 African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, and Ethiopia, joined representatives from the African Development Bank (AfDB), UN-Habitat, and C40 Cities. Discussions centred on financing frameworks, alternative fuels, carbon markets, intelligent transport systems, and air quality management, which are all key to positioning African cities for sustainable economic growth.
Akinajo said Lagos’s growing reputation as a hub for clean transport reform and knowledge exchange places it at the forefront of Africa’s sustainable mobility movement. “From our waterways to our roads, Lagos is embracing innovation not as an experiment, but as a necessity,” she said.
The three-day conference continues with technical sessions, exhibitions, and investment forums showcasing innovations in electric vehicles, smart mobility, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
