The environmental and technological imperative of clean transport dominated presentations on the second day of the 2025 LAMATA International Conference on Sustainable Urban Mobility (SUMConference25), with discussions led by the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, and the General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Babatunde Ajayi. The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources addressed the transition to renewable energy in the transportation sector. The Commissioner outlined Lagos’ strategy to integrate clean energy sources—including solar, hydro, and biogas—to power public transport systems and the rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) fleet. He underscored the need for concerted public and private sector investment to build the required EV charging infrastructure and capacity for localized manufacturing, framing the transition as a pathway to creating green jobs for African youth.
The GM of LASEPA’s presentation focused on the urgent need for data-driven environmental policies, emphasizing that tackling emissions from the transport sector starts with accurate measurement. Dr. Ajayi highlighted Lagos’ pioneering role as one of the first African cities to deploy a city-wide low-cost sensor network for tracking urban transport emissions in real time. This initiative, according to him, is crucial for empowering communities to demand cleaner policies and for achieving the continental goal of creating a shared air quality data platform linking African cities. The consensus among participants was clear: “What we cannot measure, we cannot manage.” The session also featured a crucial international benchmark from Chris Chinnock of Transport for London (TfL), who detailed London’s commitment to “net zero by 2030”. Chinnock’s presentation highlighted lessons from implementing measures like the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and the Congestion Charge, providing a framework for African cities to manage air pollution and reduce transport emissions drastically. The proceedings at today’s session reinforced the conference’s goal: turning knowledge exchange into tangible, sustainable action.
