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In a bid to address the increasing cases of urban traffic across the country, the executive director of Ochenuell Mobility, Emmanuel John has called for the return of cycling as it was in the 50s and 60s.
John stated this at a stakeholders’ forum on “Safe Streets to School Abuja Project” in Abuja.
The programme, which was sponsored by Ochenuell Mobility in partnership with Global Designing Cities Initiative was targeted at developing the culture of cycling to school in Nigeria particularly in Abuja with a view of de-emphasizing motorising and its consequences such as traffic congestion, emissions and crashes among others.
He also expressed concern over provision of safe walking and cycling routes for school children.
According to him, “In the next five years Abuja will be the centre of cycling because our advocacy has reached that peak where everybody is getting involved, at the federal level and state level.
“The obvious fact is that students are struggling, we have watched students having difficulty going to school because there has not been focal attention to them.
“Some of them trek 10 km to go to school and 10 km to come back. This is one of the reasons for the massive failure among students.”
Also, the secretary, Transportation, FCT, Abdullahi Candido, while commending the management of the organisation, said that school children deserve seamless, active and affordable mobility as they commute to school and back daily.
He said parents and guardians already have enough on their heads but are encumbered with providing transport for their kids by driving them to school daily.
“Or giving them money for commercial transport which could have been used for something better in the face of the harsh economic situation we are faced with.
“School premises and environments can change significantly especially during peak hours if a significant number of students ride bicycle to school,” he added.
The highlight of the programme was the presentation of bicycles to Candido and others by the management of Ochenuell Mobility.