DECARBONIZING URBAN MOBILITY IN NIGERIA

Nigeria’s urban transport sector is among the highest sources of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for nearly one-quarter of the country’s total energy-related emissions (International Energy Agency [IEA], 2023).

DECARBONIZING URBAN MOBILITY IN NIGERIA: OPPORTUNITIES
AND CONSTRAINTS FOR TRANSITIONING TO ELECTRIC PUBLIC
TRANSPORT SYSTEMS
ADEBOWALE-SALAWU Temiloluwa E*., & OYEJIDE Olarinola I.

Department of Urban and Regional Planning,
The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria

Corresponding author: temmyadebowale444@gmail.com

Abstract

Nigeria’s transport sector is a major source of greenhouse-gas emissions, contributing about one-quarter of national carbon output. Rapid urbanization, growing motorization, and dependence on fossil fuels have intensified air pollution and congestion in cities such as Lagos, Ibadan, and Abuja. This paper examines the opportunities and constraints of decarbonizing Nigeria’s urban mobility through the transition to electric public transport systems. Using a discussion-based analytical approach, it synthesizes recent policy documents, pilot experiences, and secondary data to assess institutional readiness, infrastructural capacity, and policy coherence. Findings reveal a strong policy foundation under frameworks such as the Climate Change Act (2021), National Urban Transport Policy (2021), National Electric Vehicle Policy (2023), and the approved National Land Transport Policy (2025). These instruments demonstrate Nigeria’s growing political commitment to sustainable mobility. However, persistent barriers including unreliable electricity supply, high acquisition costs, weak inter-agency coordination, and limited technical capacity continue to constrain progress. The Lagos electric-bus initiative, implemented through a public–private partnership between LAMATA and Oando Clean Energy, offers a replicable model for other cities if supported by renewable power and institutional reform. The study concludes that Nigeria’s low-carbon transition requires an integrated strategy linking energy reform, transport governance, and industrial development. A phased, city-based approach beginning with Lagos and Ibadan can demonstrate scalable pathways toward decarbonized, equitable, and resilient urban transport.

Keywords: Urban mobility, electric public transport, low-carbon transition, Nigeria, sustainable transport