Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it will soon commence the recovery and construction of bicycle lanes in Abuja as a response to request by some residents of the city.
FCTA Permanent Secretary Olusade Adesola made the disclosure at the flag-off of the 5th United Nations World Bicycle Day event organised by Ochenuel Mobility and its partners in Abuja, Nigeria.
Adesola said, “Abuja have a very wide and beautiful roads, creating bicycle lanes out of existing roads will not be a challenge, because cycling is an enjoyable sport, recreation and a mode of transport that people should do safely in the city.”
Also, executive director, Ochenuel Mobility and organiser of the event, Engr Emmanuel John, conveyed the request of all Abuja cyclists to the city authority under the leadership of the permanent secretary, noting that cycle infrastructure is the most desired need for enabling safe cycling especially now that fuel subsidy is removed and cost of a liter of fuel have risen from N185 to N540.
He said this means that transport will become increasingly difficult, hence cycling will be a credible alternative.
The secretary, who appreciated John for having done much of the job through his feasibility studies and establishing collaborations between the Transport Secretariat, the Federal Capital Development Authority and other stakeholders in this regard, said, “I will take this up from here”.
On his part, the corps marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), represented by the assistant corps marshal, Aliyu Datsama, said FRSC will continue to not only support the initiatives but will further facilitate actions that will make cycling safe and comfortable for all those who chose to ride in Abuja and across Nigeria.
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian, while speaking at the event, appreciated Ochenuel Mobility and the Cycling Federation of Nigeria for sustaining the initiative of hosting this event which aligns with the high commission’s eco-friendly initiative.
He stated that the high commission has been part of the collaboration since the start of the World Bicycle Day in 2018 and will continue to do so.
The national technical director of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria who represented the board at the event urged other individuals and corporate organisations to emulate the efforts of Ochenuell Mobility to make cycling a household name in Nigeria and particularly in Abuja.
