The Lagos state government has declared that it is committed to bringing sanity and orderliness in the transport system of the metropolitan city with with an estimated population of 20 million people.
Ladi Lawanson, the State Commissioner for Transpotation re-echoed this determination last week while conducting transport journalists round the Ikeja Bus Terminal that was recently commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Ladi Lawanson said that the 13 bus terminals will checkmate the menace of “one chance” kidnapping and accidents associated with the current commercial bus regime in the State.
According to Lawanson, “constructions are ongoing in 13 different bus terminals across the state to leverage their various operations.
“We have Alapere bus shelter, Ilupeju bus depot, Yaba bus terminal, Anthony bus depot, Maryland bus terminal, Agege bus terminal, Ojota bus terminal, Oyingbo bus terminal, Tafawa Balewa Square Bus Terminal and other proposed corridors.
Conceptualised and built by Planet Projects Limited, the ultra-modern Ikeja Terminal is a key transport infrastructure constructed to improve efficiency in system connections, reduce traffic congestion caused by ongoing street loading and dropping off of passengers, reduce environmental pollution and improve security and safety of the commuting public.
Describing the Ikeja Bus Terminal as a small component of the big picture of multimodal transport system planned by the government, the Transportation commissioner added that contrary to negative insinuations in some quarters that the new facility is a bus stop, the new bus terminal comes with all the facilities and amenities obtainable in any part of the world. Some of the facilities he said include a food court, waiting lounge, Wifi and other internet and communication facilities.
The Ikeja facility is part of the massive and aggressive bus reform strategic plan that will also see to the construction of other 13 different bus terminals which will employ an estimated 3000 youths in the state.
As at the time of filing this report, BusinessDay was told that 800 buses scheduled to be assembled and imported from Brazil and designed to suit the Nigerian road conditions are to be purchased and injected into the transportation project by the middle of the year.
The commissioner added that the state government is coming with multimodal and integrated transportation system which will take care of about four million people on a daily basis across the state to cater for Lagos residents of especially lower and middle classes, who cannot afford to fund their own cars every day.
He noted that the state’s growth was exponential as an emerging megacity and Nigeria’s premier economic centre, saying that “Lagos, no doubt, requires an integrated transport system to meet the demand of its over 20 million citizens and fulfil its aspiration as Africa’s foremost business and entertainment city.”
The commissioner further explained that the state Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode was passionate to provide residents with transportation system of international standards which would be responsive to the core need of Lagos residents and teeming visitors.
Also speaking, , Biodun Otunla, managing pirector, Planet Projects said that the country has paid less attention to transport in the country, adding that the Ikeja terminal bus is the flagship and will move more than 200,000 passengers daily.The Ikeja terminal bus is sitting on a land size of 10,000 square metres.
While responding to questions from the newsmen, Biodun Otunla, managing pirector, Planet Projects lamented that the country has for a very long time paid less attention to transport needs in the country, adding that the Ikeja terminal bus is the flagship and will move more than 200,000 passengers daily.The terminal bus is sitting on a land size of 10000 square metres.
