LAGOS TO OBSERVE CAR FREE DAY The Lagos State Government is collaborating with the Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI) to observe the first ever ‘Car Free Day’ in Lagos this Sunday, September 25, 2022, to encourage road users and motorists to set aside their cars for a day and take up active and inclusive means of transport such as cycling and walking known as Non-Motorized Transport (NMT).Announcing that traffic will be diverted around Alausa/Ikeja as cyclists will utilize Governor’s Office Road, through Mobolaji Johnson Ave, Billings Way, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Aromire, Adeniyi Jones, and Oba Akran Way for a bicycle ride to mark the event while about 400 Meters of the Governor’s Avenue will be closed for the event.Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde explained that the aim of the initiative was to create awareness of the benefits of Non-Motorized Transport, including reduced environmental pollution.He cited the significant drop in air pollution recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, when movement was curtailed and many private cars and public vehicles were off the roads, which he said resulted in the reduction of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, thereby improving the quality of air, as well as an increase in physical exercise and improved health practices“Vehicular emissions have now become a global issue. In Nigeria as well as other developing countries, 25% of the air pollution problems are a result of automobile exhaust. This is very evident in the number of unroadworthy, smoky vehicles plying our roads on daily basis, causing not just health issues but visibility problems and sometimes accidents.” Oladeinde stated.