The bustling city of Lagos, renowned for its vibrant and dynamic urban ecosystem, is hosting the second General Assembly of the newly established African Association of Urban Mobility Authorities (AUMA) on Monday and Tuesday. Co-organised by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in collaboration with the Africa Transport Policy Programme (SSATP), the gathering of urban mobility leaders aims to build the foundation for sustainable urban transit systems in Africa.
Now more than ever, African cities are facing escalating challenges related to urban mobility, rooted in rapid urbanisation and population growth and inadequate transport infrastructure. The diversity and complexity of these challenges – ranging from traffic congestion to environmental concerns and accessibility issues – underscore the urgent need to strengthen urban transport governance across the continent. According to the association, AUMA’s inception stems from this imperative, aiming to foster the fruitful exchange of knowledge and experiences amongst Africa’s new and more established urban mobility authorities.
Convening more than16 urban mobility authorities from across the continent (including the 13 founding members), the event will provide a formal platform for sharing the experiences and lessons learned of LAMATA and the Executive Council of Urban Transport (CETUD) in Dakar, and facilitating deep dive discussions into the topical issues of informal transport, paratransit professionalization and urban mobility financing.
In addition, delegates will have the opportunity to experience Lagos’ urban mobility landscape during site visits to key installations around the city, including the recently launched Blue Line of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit system.
LAMATA’s Managing Director, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo said: “We view this assembly as an opportunity to unite our efforts and empower the creation of innovative, tailored solutions to the unique and complex urban mobility challenges facing Africa’s rapidly growing cities”.
President of the AUMA Executive Committee, who is also Director General of CETUD, Dr. Thierno Birahim Aw, emphasised the significance of the assembly. “AUMA is more than an association; it is a movement dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration, and policy advancement in urban mobility across Africa. Lagos, with its multifaceted urban transport dynamics, offers a fitting backdrop to discuss, deliberate, and design our pathway to a future where mobility is not just accessible but also sustainable and equitable”, he said.
Aside from serving as a platform for substantive technical discussions and networking opportunities, the general assembly meeting will gather all members to agree on and establish technical working groups aimed at advancing the priority activities of the association.
Established on 21st February 2023 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, AUMA is a formal network that aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences related to the planning, coordination, regulation, management, and financing of urban transport systems in Africa.
