Safe Transit Abuja
A city-wide safety and accountability initiative combining commuter awareness, survivor-centred storytelling, digital safety tools, and policy advocacy to prevent 'one-chance' crimes on Abuja's public transport.
Problem Statement
In Abuja, daily commuting has become increasingly dangerous due to the rise of 'one-chance' kidnapping and related crimes within informal and poorly regulated public transport systems. Victims are frequently subjected to robbery, physical assault, sexual violence, and forced ATM withdrawals or bank transfers. Weak transport oversight, limited accountability, and low public awareness continue to expose commuters — particularly youth and women — to serious harm.
Target Group
- All public transport users in Abuja
- Youth in Abuja
- Women and girls
- Survivors of one-chance incidents
Proposed Solution
Safe Transit Abuja adopts a preventive, survivor-centred, and accountability-driven approach to urban mobility safety. The project combines regulation-focused advocacy, survivor storytelling, safety innovation, and multi-stakeholder engagement to reduce commuter vulnerability. Through public awareness, digital tools, policy dialogue, and access-to-justice pathways, the initiative seeks to strengthen transport oversight, empower commuters with safety knowledge, and drive systemic reform.
Hub Activities
A. Safe Transit Abuja Awareness & Media Campaign
- Production of short videos, animations, survivor stories, and infographics
- Multi-channel dissemination via social media, radio, and television
- Strategic partnerships with media houses for sustained advocacy
- Bus-stop posters and safety stickers in high-risk locations
- Influencer and youth-leader amplification
B. Storytelling, Documentation & Data Mapping
- Survivor-informed short documentary series with ethical safeguards
- Vox pops and field storytelling in identified hotspots
- Mapping of unsafe transit zones and patterns of abuse
- Publication of findings to inform advocacy and policy engagement
C. Safety Innovation: "Safe Transit Abuja" Digital Tool
- Maps one-chance hotspots
- Identifies verified taxis and transport operators
- Enables live location sharing and emergency contacts
- Provides commuter safety tips and reporting pathways
D. Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Dialogue
- Convening a multi-stakeholder roundtable including Bolt, Uber, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigeria Police (FCT Command), and civil society and women's rights organisations
E. Access to Justice & Accountability
- Awareness on legal rights, reporting channels, and remedies
- Referrals to pro bono legal services and human rights bodies
- Advocacy for accountability within policing and transport regulation
F. Lighting Up the City (Urban Safety Advocacy)
- Advocacy for improved street lighting around bus stops and commuter corridors
- Citizen reporting of poorly lit and unsafe transit areas
- Engagement with the FCTA on urban safety infrastructure
Goals
Short-term Goals
- Equip at least 100,000 Abuja residents with commuter safety knowledge
- Increase reporting and documentation of one-chance incidents
- Build partnerships with transport, security, and regulatory stakeholders
- Launch a pilot version of the Safe Transit Abuja digital tool
Long-term Goals
- Improve regulation and accountability in Abuja's transport system
- Reduce commuter vulnerability to one-chance crimes
- Institutionalise survivor-informed safety and justice mechanisms
- Replicate the Safe Transit Abuja model in other Nigerian cities
Key Results / KPIs
- Number of people reached through awareness campaigns
- Number of survivor stories documented
- Engagement metrics across media platforms
- Number of stakeholder commitments secured
- Policy recommendations submitted
- Usage data for the Safe Transit Abuja digital tool