Onome Amuge
Nigeria’s road transport sector, long marked by safety concerns, congestion, and regulatory friction, may be inching toward a new era of collaboration as government agencies and private sector operators search for common ground. That was the message at the Lagos Road Mobility Summit, jointly hosted last week by Uber and the Lagos State Ministry of Transport, where policymakers, regulators, global experts, and technology leaders met to explore strategies for safer and more inclusive urban mobility.
Themed “Reimagining an Inclusive Road Safety Strategy,” the summit did more than convene stakeholders.This is as it also marked the launch of Uber’s Nigeria Economic Impact Report 2023, conducted by Public First, which offered fresh insights into the ride-hailing platform’s role in the country’s economy.
According to the report, Uber added an estimated N34 billion to Nigeria’s GDP in 2023, while riders gained nearly N500 billion in consumer surplus, reflecting the value of time saved, convenience, and improved mobility options.
Yet the conversation at the summit went beyond numbers, with participants stressing that the intersection of technology, regulation, and public policy could reshape not only transport services but also road safety outcomes for millions of Nigerians.
Nigeria records some of the highest road traffic deaths in Africa, according to the World Health Organization. In Lagos alone, poor enforcement of traffic laws, reckless driving, and inadequate infrastructure remain persistent risks.
Recognising this, the summit brought together senior officials including representatives from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and the African Association of Road Safety Lead Agencies, alongside international experts such as Marisela Ponce de Leon Valdes, senior transport specialist and road safety pillar lead at the World Bank’s SSATP.
Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, representing the Lagos State commissioner for transport, stressed that building safer transport systems requires collaboration between government and private operators. “Government cannot do it alone. We need partnerships with companies like Uber to strengthen compliance, improve safety education, and deploy smarter technology solutions,” he said.
Panelists also pointed to the newly released Africa Road Safety Status Report 2025, which highlights that low- and middle-income countries bear over 90 per cent of the global road traffic burden. Nigeria, with one of the largest populations in Africa, carries a disproportionate share of this weight.
For Uber, the summit was an opportunity to position itself not merely as a ride-hailing service but as an active partner in Nigeria’s mobility ecosystem.
“Uber is more than a way to move from A to B; it’s a platform that empowers people to shape their futures. We are proud to be part of Nigeria’s growth story, from empowering drivers with flexible earning opportunities to helping riders travel safely, especially women,” said Deepesh Thomas, General Manager for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa.
The report revealed that Uber drivers earned an additional N6.1 billion in 2023 compared to their next best alternative, with average earnings 34 per cent higher. Nearly nine in ten drivers (88%) said the platform’s flexibility helps them balance work with family responsibilities, a benefit valued at N6.3 billion.
Convenience and safety remain central to Uber’s appeal in Nigeria. The survey found that 97 per cent of riders cite safety as a key reason for using the app, while 78 per cent of women said Uber is the safest way for them to get home at night.
In Lagos’s growing nightlife economy, 79 per cent of riders agreed that Uber helps reduce drunk driving by providing reliable transport after dark.
Uber’s contribution is seen extending beyond mobility into tourism, local business growth, and nightlife. The report estimates that the platform generated nearly N930 million in value for Nigeria’s nighttime economy last year and N5.4 billion in value for tourism. Riders also saved more than 1.8 million hours in travel time, time that could be spent with family, on business, or leisure.
Still, challenges remain. Stakeholders at the summit acknowledged gaps in regulation, weak enforcement, and infrastructure bottlenecks that limit the benefits of private sector innovation.
Olalekan Bakare-Oki, general manager of LASTMA, represented by Jubril Oshodi, emphasised that traffic management cannot succeed without better coordination with transport service providers. Damilola Odunlade-Akeju, CEO of Drive Me NG, added that technology-driven driver training and safety monitoring could make Nigeria’s roads safer for all.
