LAGOS SEEKS IMPROVED INTER-MODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Lagos State Government has said that it will continue to explore efficient and technology-driven systems that will ensure a more people oriented mobility and improved services for greater productivity and prosperity of the State.
Speaking at the second edition of Lagos Traffic Radio Lecture Series on Thursday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde added that the importance this administration attached to free vehicular movement necessitated the various ongoing reforms in the State’s transportation sector.
According to the Commissioner, the yearly lecture series had been identified as platform through which stakeholders in the transportation sector can advance discussions on urban transportation and explore new developments and opportunities for more innovative ideas that facilitate easy mobility around Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director of Information Production in the Information Ministry, Mr. Biola Fagunwa cited the instance of the extensive lay-bys at Berger, Oworonshoki and Ogudu/Alapere Bus Stops, the 114 inner-road projects in various local governments and the construction of Abule-Egba and Ajah overhead bridges among many others, as some of the initiatives of the State Government in easing vehicular bottlenecks across the State.
Ayorinde said “the State Government has developed a Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP) which aims to move Metropolitan Lagos beyond its current challenges and move Lagos State and its citizens to more productivity and improved economy”.
“The administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is keeping its promises of delivering on quality and robust technology-driven transportation through roads, railways and waterways,” the Commissioner stated.
Also speaking at the event, the Ag. Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Anofiu Elegushi said that the State Government is exploiting alternative integrated modes of transportation with focus on water transportation, adding that commuters along Ikorodu-Marina, Badore-Admiralty Osborne to Marina as well as Ijede could now heave a sigh of relief as commuting along that axis has been greatly improved upon.
Towards further re-energising the transportation sector, Elegushi stated that an integrated Public Transportation System will soon kick start with a N30 Billion Sinking Fund for the Bus Reform Project, the highlight of which is the provision, over a 3-year period, of 5,000 buses with carriage capacity of between 30-70 people that will be operated through franchise in multiples of 50, 100 and 200 buses.
He further added that supporting public transportation in a mega city like Lagos that houses the two major ports, busiest international airport with concentration of largest number of tank farms in the country would require the support, collaboration and cooperation of all stakeholders with the state government.
Elegushi observed that “the introduction of computerised vehicle Testing Centres will significantly enhance the quality of vehicles on our roads” because “the State Government has invested in the required human resources as well as provided operational vehicles to ensure expanded coverage and effective response to challenges”.
Some officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) were decorated with different awards such as The Most Dedicated LASTMA official for 2017 won by Hannah Omolara Balogun; Peoples’ LASTMA of the year 2017 – Olusegun Gbeminiyi Eboda while Modupe Balogun was conferred with Peoples’ Federal Road Safety Corps of the year.