Abimbola AKINAJO

Engr. (Mrs.) Abimbola Akinajo is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 30 years of postqualification experience in both the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Her career spans the planning, design, and delivery of major transport infrastructure projects, particularly in the rail and road sectors. A graduate of the University of Lagos, Nigeria, where she earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Civil Engineering, she began her professional journey in the United Kingdom. Her career commenced at WS Atkins Consulting as a Graduate Engineer, followed by roles of increasing responsibility including Project Engineer at Robert West Consulting, Design Manager at Fluor Daniel Limited, and Project Manager at London Underground Limited. During her tenure at London Underground, she contributed significantly to numerous highprofile rail projects, such as: • Major London Underground rail bridge replacement initiatives • The Connect Project – a system-wide upgrade of communications infrastructure • The Blackfriars Station upgrade for the Thameslink Programme • The East London Line project handover • The London Overground interface project In 2009, Engr. Akinajo became Managing Director of Nexant Consulting Limited, successfully building it into a respected, quality-focused consultancy with a strong client base. Renowned for her ability to effectively coordinate stakeholders and deliver complex projects on time and within budget, she is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE, UK), and registered with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). She also serves as Vice President (West Africa) of the Union of African Public Transport (UATP). In October 2019, Engr. Akinajo was appointed Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). Under her leadership, LAMATA has successfully implemented key components of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda—specifically in the area of Traffic Management and Transportation. Her achievements include: • Completion and launch of the first phases of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue and Red Lines • Operationalization of two (2) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors • Introduction of e-ticketing via the Cowry Card • Launch of 7 major bus terminals • Deployment of over 500 buses and rollout of the First and Last Mile (FLM) Bus Scheme She also successfully secured funding from the French Development Agency (AFD) for the development of bus feeder systems and transport interchanges at key locations. Currently, Engr. Akinajo is overseeing the second phase of the LRMT Blue Line, with infrastructure completion targeted for Q4 2026 and passenger operations projected for Q1 2027. She is also leading efforts on the development of the Green and Purple Rail Lines. In her commitment to sustainable urban mobility, she is steering LAMATA toward becoming a multi-fuelled transport authority, regulating buses powered by electricity, petrol, diesel, and compressed natural gas (CNG), with strategic plans underway to convert waste into biogas. She is the 2025 – 2027 chair of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Africa Division and has been elected as the President of the African Urban Mobility Association (AUMA). Engr. Abimbola Akinajo continues to be a transformative leader in the transport sector, dedicated to building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation in public mobility