Post by Samuel A. Ajayi, PhD

Safe and Smart Mobility for African Cities: Reimagining Transport for a Greener Future African cities are experiencing rapid urbanization, population growth, and economic expansion. While these trends create opportunities, they also increase transport challenges such as congestion, road crashes, air pollution, inadequate public transport, and limited accessibility. Addressing these challenges requires a shift toward mobility systems that are safer, smarter, more inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. Safe mobility focuses on reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities through safer infrastructure, vehicles, regulations, and road-user behaviour. Smart mobility leverages technology, data, innovation, and intelligent systems to improve transport efficiency, accessibility, sustainability, and user experience. To support this transition, I propose the "MOBILITY" Framework as a strategic roadmap for achieving safe and smart mobility in African cities. The framework comprises eight interconnected pillars: M – Modernize Infrastructure O – Own the Transition B – Build Safety into Every Journey I – Innovate Through Data, Artificial Intelligence, and a National Transport Data Hub L – Low-Carbon Mobility Solutions I – Integrate Systems and Services T – Transform Mobility Through Policy and Governance Y – Yield Sustainable Investments and Future Prosperity (See the MOBILITY Pyramid attached for details.) The MOBILITY Framework recognizes that transport transformation requires more than infrastructure development. It demands stakeholder ownership, intelligent decision-making, low-carbon technologies, integrated transport networks, strong governance structures, and sustainable investments. By adopting this framework, African cities can create transport systems that are safer, smarter, greener, more resilient, and economically competitive. Ultimately, the future of mobility in Africa lies not only in moving people and goods more efficiently but also in creating sustainable transport systems that improve quality of life, support economic growth, reduce environmental impacts, and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals. I will be expanding on each pillar of the MOBILITY Framework in subsequent posts. Special Appreciation to Global Transport Policy News Limited for opening up the discuss on this theme. What do you think is the most critical pillar for transforming mobility in African cities? Global Transport Policy News Limited VREF Volvo Research and Educational Foundations PACE Nigeria #SafeMobility #SmartMobility #SustainableTransport #AfricanCities #MobilityFramework #TransportPolicy #ITS #ArtificialIntelligence #DataDrivenPlanning #GreenMobility #UrbanTransport #ClimateAction #SustainableDevelopment #NBRRI #TransportResearch