Why Nigeria Needs an Inclusive Mobility Infrastructure for the Next Decade

By Afeez Akinfola Oyinloye

Mobility is not just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about access—access to jobs, education, healthcare, and economic opportunity. Yet in Nigeria, our mobility infrastructure is structurally exclusive. Millions in smaller towns and peri-urban communities face daily transport chaos.

The solution? An inclusive digital mobility strategy—built on data, designed for the people, and driven by technology.

At MacTech, we built WakaForMe Ride to solve a hyperlocal problem in Osogbo, Osun State.
In 2020, the city’s informal transport system was inefficient, expensive, and often unsafe. We mapped the city’s most underserved routes, worked with local drivers to digitize their services, and created a mobile platform that cut travel wait times by 20%.

In doing so, we uncovered a national problem: Nigeria lacks a structured mobility backbone for mid-tier cities.
Here’s what inclusive mobility means for Nigeria’s next decade:

1. Data-Driven Urban PlanningGovernments must leverage transport data—routes, trip frequencies, congestion patterns—to guide road upgrades, traffic signal placement, and ride-sharing licenses. In our pilot, we shared anonymized trip heatmaps with Osun State officials, helping them plan for peak-hour traffic control.

2.Multimodal Integration Future-ready systems must integrate multiple modes:

motorcycles, mini-buses, bicycles, and walking paths. Our app is evolving to include bike-sharing and multi-hop routing. When users can combine transport modes within one interface, it increases adoption—especially for women and students.

3. Affordability Through InnovationTech reduces operational costs. By automating dispatch and removing fare negotiation, we brought down average ride costs by 18%. Governments can support this by zero-rating mobility apps on telecom networks and subsidizing digital wallets.

4.Rural & Semi-Urban Inclusion
Most VC-funded mobility startups ignore areas without perfect infrastructure. But these are precisely the markets where innovation can have the highest impact. We’ve seen firsthand how a ₦400 trip savings makes a difference for market women or artisans.

5.Safety as a Core Design Principle Our app includes driver ID verification, rider SOS features, and trip-sharing functions. These small additions—tailored for Nigerian realities—go a long way in increasing trust and adoption.

If Nigeria is serious about becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030, inclusive mobility must be foundational. We must democratize access to safe, affordable, and efficient transport—not just in Lagos, but in Ilesa, Ilorin, and Minna too.

With public-private collaboration, innovation in AI-powered routing, and community partnerships, we can design a future where no Nigerian is left stranded. The technology is here. What we need is the will.