Accelerating Clean Urban Mobility in Nigeria: A Key to Preserving the Earth

Today, the world celebrates Earth Day with the theme "Planet Versus Plastic." We need to understand that transportation plays a critical role in city building due to connectivity when moving goods, services, and people from one location to another.

Acknowledging that plastics have revolutionized the automotive sector, playing a significant role in automobile design, weight minimization, fuel economy, safety enhancements, and eco-friendliness.

As responsible consumption takes the forefront of almost all climate discussions, leading to a change in the way earth resources are used and transitioning from fossil fuels becomes imperative. It's essential to understand that the automobile industry is not exempt because it significantly contributes to issues of solid waste pollution and greenhouse gases.

With new and emerging technology and sustainable practices becoming necessary, especially as plastics have become a nuisance in their interaction with the earth. Advancing mobility technology in the automotive revolution involves the supply chain associated with the industry. Some studies have highlighted that most components are made from recycled plastic.

Building low carbon emission cities requires the use of products such as EV cars made from sustainable resources with an adequate life cycle assessment. Nigeria, one of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with a large carbon footprint, largely depends on fossil and other energy sources for fuel needs, especially in transportation.

Since the removal of fuel subsidy, most of the country's population has struggled with affordable transportation. Most of the country's cities are growing at an accelerated speed, affecting the overall well-being of the environment if people do not find alternative and affordable transportation options. This has impacted the prices of goods and services, especially with continued reliance on fossil fuels. As global climate change continues to aggravate, noticeable evidence, such as partially or completely burnt trees and crops due to GHG emissions, is very visible in most neighborhoods across the country.

The country is positioned at these critical times where the economy continues to struggle; one of the first ways to ease the burden of the people is through sustainable and affordable transportation.

Addressing issues of sustainable and affordable transportation is key to accelerating economic growth and positioning the country in the fight to reduce its carbon footprint. It will also help drive sustainable and resilient cities because of the materials these cars are made of and how they are managed at the end of their lifecycle.