Nigeria and Africa at large have a beautiful story, from the richness of their cultures to their radiant environments and the people’s tenacity to survive against all odds. If told from a positive angle, these stories could elevate the continent to greater global relevance and prosperity.
This was the submission of the Reverend Dr. Israel Kristilere of Shepherd Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos, at the unveiling of “Afro Mobility Intel” a quarterly magazine focused on addressing mobility challenges across Africa through data, insights, and human stories aimed at boosting trade and development.
Dedicating the inaugural edition, Rev. Kristilere described the publisher as a passionate lover of Nigeria whose efforts are commendable.
He urged other Nigerians to contribute ideas that can help fix the country’s and continent’s problems.
“Africa, we are radiant in beauty. Let’s tell our story with courage and boldness to make this continent greater in the future,” he said.
The cleric prayed for God’s grace and sustenance for the publisher, expressing hope that the initiative would contribute to addressing challenges slowing Africa’s progress.
Giving an overview of the publication, the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Bukola Majekodunmi, said the project was inspired by her years of experience working on mobility issues across the continent. She emphasized the need for policies that eliminate barriers to movement so that Africans can do business seamlessly across borders.
According to her, the research behind the publication gathered extensive data and human experiences that can guide the creation of effective mobility policies for the continent.
Majekodunmi highlighted the significant contribution of informal mobility operators — tricyclists, okada riders, and bus operators — to business and trade. She urged policymakers to understand their realities and design inclusive policies rather than banning them.
“There are opportunities for government to sit down and understand them. Imagine what we can do when we have data, insights, and human stories — then we can design policies that really solve problems,” she noted.
Reflecting on the journey behind the work, she explained that her team had spent over a decade working directly in communities across 13 African countries including Angola, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea, Togo, Cameroon, Liberia, Central African Republic, Tanzania, Uganda, Benin, and Guinea Conakry.
“These are not just locations on a project list; they are living contexts that shaped our understanding of what mobility truly means in Africa,” she said.
She lamented the lack of comprehensive data on informal mobility — a major factor behind policy gaps across African governments. She also noted that, despite the quality of locally made products, bureaucratic bottlenecks at borders and checkpoints continue to hinder trade.
Head of Creative and Strategy, Ayodele Sanusi, shared some of the challenges experienced during fieldwork, noting that extortion and delays at checkpoints remained major obstacles.
“Even with valid passports, business entry is not guaranteed. Extortion of people doing legitimate work is too much,” he said, calling for seamless border processes aligned with proper documentation.
An NGO executive, Mrs. Ayodeji Megbope, commended the initiative, acknowledging the publisher’s passion and commitment to Nigeria and Africa.
The event featured a vibrant cultural display with talking drummers and singers.
An excerpt from the publication describes informal mobility as privately operated public transportation services not formally regulated by public authorities. These include motorcycle taxis, shared minibuses, and unregulated carpools that fill gaps where formal transport is insufficient. While essential, they can also contribute to congestion and safety concerns but remain critical to transport systems in many low- and middle-income cities.
Reporting By Innocent Onoh