LAMATA study visit to Paris and Nantes (France)

Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria and the largest city on the African continent in terms of population (22 millions inhabitants), is one of the most congested cities in the world. On average, the city’s inhabitants spend between 4 and 6 hours a day using all modes of transport. The challenges in terms of mobility are enormous.
AFD has already participated in the extension of a segment of the Lagos BRT and is currently continuing its technical assistance through two projects, one concerning the optimisation and development of the road public transport network and the other a project to develop the river public transport network.
It was against this backdrop that AFD’s Lagos office asked CODATU to organise a technical visit to Paris and Nantes (France).
The delegation represented the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), respectively the regulatory authorities for land and water transport in Lagos State.
AFD and Expertise France entrusted CODATU with organising the programme of technical visits and providing support during the various meetings.

The aim of the study trip was (i) to present efficient, high-quality public transport systems to representatives of the cities of Lagos and Kaduna, as well as the potential of river transport, and (ii) to show the delegation the importance of coordinating stakeholders to create integrated transport systems. In particular, the trip made it possible to:

• Strengthen the capacities of road and river transport regulatory authorities in terms of mobility governance;
• Contribute to developing the reflex of institutional, physical, technical and pricing intermodality between road and river transport at the scale of a metropolitan area;
• Improve the planning, development and management of key public spaces in the transport system, in particular riverbank development and flood risk management;
• Developing ‘electromobility’ policies (integrating electric buses and boats into the existing transport system);
• Stimulate interest in French transport expertise (intellectual services, works, equipment).

Codatu Team