Lagos ends EcoMove 2025, targets 2,000 CNG buses by 2026
By : Suliyat Tella
Date: 1 May 2025
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The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has concluded its five-day EcoMove 2025 event, aimed at promoting sustainable and eco-friendly transport practices across the state.
The event, organized through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation, ended on Tuesday, April 30, at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
The event brought together dignitaries from various parts of the country. Among them were the Commissioner for Transportation in Ekiti State, Kehinde Kolawole Ajobiewe, who delivered a goodwill message; the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi; and the host, Toyin Aremu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation.
Speaking at the event, Toyin Aremu highlighted the efforts made under the EcoMove initiative, including the clean-up of mechanic villages, medical outreach in motor parks, and a roadshow held the previous Saturday to showcase Lagos’ transportation heritage. He said the initiative also included discussions on transport infrastructure such as the BRT system and the state’s rail projects, including the red, blue, and green lines. He noted that 40% of Lagos’ landmass is made up of waterways, which remain underutilized, and called on stakeholders to support the government in building environmentally friendly transport solutions.
In his keynote address, Commissioner Oluwaseun Osiyemi said Lagos, despite being the smallest state in Nigeria by landmass, has a unique geography with one-third of its area covered by water. He said this has necessitated the development of an integrated, multimodal transport system that includes land, rail, water, and air transport. Osiyemi explained that the blue rail line is fully electric and spans 27 kilometers, with the completed first phase running from Marina to Mile 2. He said the second phase, which will extend to Okokomaiko, is about 55 percent completed and is expected to be ready by 2026.
He added that the state is also acquiring between 50 to 100 electric buses through private sector support and plans to introduce 2,000 CNG buses to further reduce emissions and ease traffic congestion.
Also speaking at the event, the General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, educated the audience on the health risks associated with emissions from vehicles.
He encouraged the adoption of cleaner energy sources such as CNG and electric vehicles. Ajayi said the trains in Lagos have demonstrated that low-emission transport options are achievable and beneficial. He also disclosed that LASEPA, in partnership with LAMATA, is currently measuring emissions from BRT buses, and findings show that reducing emissions leads to healthier living conditions. He added that Lagos State plans to plant 20,000 trees this year to help absorb carbon dioxide and promote a cleaner environment.
The EcoMove 2025 event featured cultural performances by the Nigerian Children’s Cultural Heritage group and ended with renewed calls for greater public support for sustainable transportation initiatives in Lagos.
THE GUARDIAN
