Lagos Govt Digitalises Interstate Parking System For Passengers’ Safety

Lagos State government yesterday said it had commenced a digitalised system for interstate transportation, stressing that  it would help to guarantee passengers’ safety and reduce traffic congestion in the state.

The state commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi made the disclosure during a press briefing at Alausa, Ikeja, noting that about 100 unregulated motor parks within the state would have to be upgraded to meet the required standards.

According to him, the scheme under Lagos State Interstate Park Accreditation and Passenger Manifest Digitisation project will help to ensure a proper database for the state government.

Flanked by the special adviser to the governor on Transportation, Hon Sola Giwa; general manager, Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI), Hafsat Tiamiyu; the permanent secretary of the ministry, Mr Olawale Musa and others, Osiyemi explained that the streamlined system which is taking off immediately would empower first responders with immediate access to essential passengers’ information.

The commissioner said, “We have had a lot of stakeholders’ meetings before now; that is why we have the transporters and the union here. There is collaboration and it is still ongoing.”

He further stated that there is a prototype already in place at Ojota Park for the smooth take off of the new system.

“Over 6,000 come into Lagos on a daily basis and out of this, about 3,000 don’t go out. We need to know people coming into our state; it goes beyond revenue. It is about safety, accountability and proper planning.

“This new initiative by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation is aimed at enhancing safety, reliability and efficiency in interstate travel across Lagos. The Lagos State Interstate Park Accreditation and Passenger Manifest Digitisation project is an ambitious programme designed to standardise our interstate parks and digitise the passenger manifest system.

“This is more than just a modernisation effort; it is a commitment to the safety and comfort of every traveller who moves in and out of Lagos by road. The goal of this initiative is straightforward; it is to make interstate travel safer, more efficient and more reliable.”

According to the Lagos State secretary of the Nigerian Union of Road Transportation Workers (NURTW), Mr Usman Teslim, the union is in total support of transforming manifest from analogue to digital.

He added that the union has been part of the initiative since its inception adding that when fully implemented, everybody would be happy about it.