ITS Nigeria partners China to tackle traffic congestion

The Intelligent Transport Systems Society Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the China Intelligent Transportation Systems Association to advance smart mobility solutions across Nigeria and strengthen bilateral cooperation in transport technology.

The agreement was signed in Xiamen, China, on the sidelines of the 2026 China International ITS Industry Expo held recently at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Centre. According to a statement, the signing ceremony was witnessed by senior officials of the China ITS association and ITS Nigeria.

The statement noted that the partnership is expected to support Nigeria in addressing transportation challenges linked to rapid urbanisation, growing vehicle density, poor traffic management infrastructure and rising road safety incidents.

The Co-Founder and Vice President of ITS Nigeria, Debo Shopade, who led the Nigerian delegation, said, “ITS Nigeria’s mission is to promote the practice, standardisation and applications of Intelligent Transport Systems and solutions in Nigeria and globally.”

Shopade, who is also the International Director of ITS Nigeria, added, “This MOU with ITS China is a direct expression of that mission — bringing world-class expertise and technology partnerships to bear on the real mobility challenges facing Nigerian cities and highways.”

He noted that the agreement would provide ITS Nigeria with direct access to global intelligent transportation expertise.

“With Nigeria projected to face ever-increasing urbanisation pressure, the adoption of intelligent transportation solutions is no longer optional — it is essential. This MOU gives ITS Nigeria a direct channel to the world’s most dynamic ITS market. Our members, government partners, and the Nigerian commuting public will all benefit,” Shopade added.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the president of China ITS, Wang Yunpeng, said the organisation looked forward to working with Nigeria on intelligent transportation solutions.

“China’s intelligent transportation sector has achieved remarkable depth and scale. We are delighted to formalise our cooperation with ITS Nigeria and look forward to working together to bring proven solutions to the Nigerian market and to learning from Nigeria’s unique context and emerging innovations,” Wang said.

The statement explained that the agreement connects ITS Nigeria with China’s intelligent transportation ecosystem, which is regarded as one of the most advanced globally.

At the opening of CITSE 2026, Wang said China had “basically formed a modern, comprehensive and three-dimensional transport network and is accelerating toward a more digitalised, intelligent, coordinated and greener system.”

He described ‘AI plus transportation’ as the new driving force shaping China’s transport future. The expo attracted participants from over 30 countries and regions and featured innovations in autonomous driving, smart urban mobility, AI-powered traffic systems, and digital highway infrastructure.

Vice President and Secretary General of China ITS, Yang Ying, described ITS Nigeria as an important partner for expanding intelligent transportation cooperation in Africa, saying, “We see ITS Nigeria as a vital partner not only for bilateral exchange but also as a bridge for connecting China’s ITS innovations with the wider African continent.”

Under the agreement, both organisations will collaborate on knowledge and technology exchange, capacity building for Nigerian transport professionals and policymakers, and the promotion of intelligent transport systems among government stakeholders.

The partnership will also facilitate commercial linkages between Nigerian transport agencies and Chinese ITS technology providers. The President of ITS Nigeria, Dr Joshua A. Odeleye, said intelligent transportation deployment had become necessary for the country’s economic and public safety needs.

“To guarantee the safety of our citizens and the seamless flow of economic activity, Nigeria must make ITS deployment a national priority across every mode of transport. Investment in intelligent transportation will move our sector decisively into the 21st century.

“This MOU with China ITS, combined with our membership of the ITS Industry Alliance, gives us the partnerships and the platform to ensure that only solutions truly suited to Nigeria’s needs are the ones that get delivered,” Odeleye said.

The statement added that ITS Nigeria and ITS China would develop a detailed cooperation roadmap, with initial activities expected to include technical exchange visits, joint seminars, and participation in future China ITS events.