URBAN ROAD TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN NIGERIA: A LEGAL COMPLIANCE ANALYSIS

Urban road transport is one of the most common modes of transportation in Nigerian cities. It has long shaped Nigeria’s cities but has also contributed to significant environmental challenges, including congestion and air pollution, thereby worsening greenhouse gas emissions. In advanced cities, urban road transport supports environmental sustainability rather than hinders it. The challenges facing Nigeria’s urban road transport sector hinder environmental sustainability, particularly because the country lacks a robust policy framework to improve the sector. Therefore, this article uses a doctrinal legal research methodology to examine Nigeria’s legal, policy, and institutional frameworks governing environmental sustainability in the urban road transport subsector. It reveals that despite comprehensive legislation such as the NESREA Act 2007, relevant regulations, the Climate Change Act 2021, and the Environmental Impact Assessment Act 1992, enforcement, legal compliance, and public awareness remain limited. As a result, environmental pollution persists, and Nigeria’s urban road transport sector remains unsustainable, characterised by higher vehicular emissions, a lack of emissions reduction technology, and inadequate modern urban transport infrastructure. Ultimately, the study finds that achieving environmental sustainability in this subsector requires not only robust legal frameworks but also effective enforcement, improved infrastructure, heightened public awareness, and strengthened institutional capacity. Recommendations include enhancing environmental legal compliance, promoting cleaner road transport technologies, modernising urban transit infrastructure, and raising public awareness.