In a bid to provide cleaner and habitable environment for towns and cities across the globe , the United Nations named the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. Being the first Monday in October today marks another UN World Habitat Day.
Apart from reflecting on the state of our town and cities, this day serves as a reminder to the world that “we all have responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.”
The environment which we live in is our responsibility. The power lies in our hands as inhabitants to make our environment worth living.
The theme for this year is “Urban Mobility”. According to United Nations, urban mobility refers to the “access to goods and services which is essential to the efficient functioning of our cities and towns as they expand.”
It has been stated that accessible cities encourage a shift towards more sustainable modes of transportation and draw more and more travelers out of cars onto trains, buses, bike paths, and sidewalks.
In Nigeria, can these be said to be in place? Do we live in an environment that encourages sustainable living? Does the government ensure urban mobility through her various policies? Has the government ensured its various policies are followed to the latter by
citizens? These are questions that stare us at the face and on a day like this, it is imperative that stakeholders reflect on these questions to ensure urban mobility.
The need to stop indiscriminate buildings on drainages, streets and major roads is pertinent for urban mobility to strive.
According to the Project Manager of one of the housing estates under construction in Lagos who pleads anonymity, says Nigeria can only achieve urban mobility when citizens learn to do the “right thing.”
According to him, “The problem we have in Lagos and other states in Nigeria is due to the attitude of citizens. Citizens do not do the right thing. They build on every little space available. This is not ideal. Cities cannot be developed without adequate plans for a healthy environment.”
For Tolulope Alabi, a secondary school teacher in Lagos state, it is important for other state governments to emulate Lagos state government in the area of ensuring urban mobility, “The good work of Lagos state government in ensuring a better habitable environment is visible. Look at the doggedness and determination to open up Oshodi. If not for that, we would have been hearing of several cases of robbery.”
When asked if Nigeria can truly experience urban mobility, Alabi says: “With what has happened in Dubai, Singapore in terms of their development, I believe Nigeria is on the track to modernise her urban areas.”
Chima Onuba, a civil servant in Abia state calls on all state governments to put in the right legislation for urban mobility to be achieved. “The government need to put in place the right legislation to ensure urban areas is conducive for living. UN’s theme for this year: ‘Urban Mobility’ can be only realised if proper urban planning is done in various cities in Nigeria,” he says.
In his speech to mark this year’s World Habitat Day, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat Dr. Joan Clos calls for improved accessibility and mobility in urban areas for more efficient
of the world’s cities and towns.
He said: “Mobility is an important part of city design as it contributes, not only to the liveability of a city in terms of reduced congestion and pollution, but also to the
economic potential, allowing the efficient movement of people and goods.
“Mobility is at the core of equitable access to basic goods, services and activities – such as work, education, medical care, shopping, socializing – and to enable people to participate in
civic life.
“Furthermore, accessible cities encourage a shift towards more sustainable modes of transportation and draw more and more travelers out of cars and onto trains, buses, bike paths,
and sidewalks. Over time, the collective costs of ‘auto mobility’ have become abundantly apparent – including urban sprawl, air and noise pollution, climate change, road traffic accidents,
and the physical separation of people by class and race.
“But mobility is about more than just the mode of transport we use. Urban planning and design should focus on how to bring people and places together, by creating cities that focus on accessibility, rather than simply increasing the length and capacity of urban transport infrastructure.
“By optimizing urban densities and minimizing land zoning we start to make the city work for its citizens; proximity of goods and services exploits the urban advantage and encourages investment and opportunity,” he said.
Compact, well-designed cities can also be cleaner and have less impact on their environment per resident than more spread out areas. “In an environment characterized by scarcity, this is not only preferable to our standard of living but vital if we are to grow our urban space in a sustainable and desirable way. We need to ensure the cities of the future are well-planned, sustainable and accessible to all,” Clos says.
Also, the UN Secretary- General, Ban Ki-Moon in his message, calls on the provision of appropriate and efficient systems that serve people in the best
and most equitable manner.
