Lagos restructures commercial bus operation

In line with the Strategic Transportation Masterplan, Lagos State government, yesterday, called for the collaboration of commercial cum informal public bus operators as it released the restructuring plans to improve commuting experience.

Speaking at a meeting with bus operators and union leaders in the state, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, described the current state of bus operations as chaotic hence the need for collaboration to successfully regulate and integrate the informal transport sector into the state’s Bus Reform Initiative using Lekki/Epe corridor as a pilot test.

He further explained that the Lekki Epe corridor had been inspected by the Ministry of Transportation and Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority to identify limitations of seamless traffic flow along the expressway and adjourning roads and had mapped out systematic framework to address these challenges.

Some of the planned solutions according to Giwa include; the restructuring of the existing unregulated public transport bus operations on the Lekki Epe corridor, deployment of high-capacity buses on the corridor as stated in the Lagos transport policy and the bus route network, re-allocation and relocation of minibuses to inner route, re-registration and recertification of all buses.

Others added are the introduction of e-ticketing system, provision of transport infrastructure (layby, terminal etc), regulation and standardization of bus operations, improved transportation services that is safety and passenger comfort and promote the security of lives and properties along the Lekki-Epe corridor.

Giwa further stated that the restructuring plan will be implemented in phases, urging Transport Operators who intend to key into the restructuring program to come to the Ministry of Transportation to register within the next two weeks. He added that the registered operators will be allotted routes by the Ministry to ensure strict compliance to the strategy.

The special adviser also warned that any operator who contravenes the regulations that will be implemented will be fined and will forfeit their vehicles in the event that they ignore the notice of their fines. He declared that the State Government will not accommodate willful disregard of its existing Transport Sector Reform Law.

Addressing the concerns raised by members of the unions, The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olawale Musa explained that the state government is counting on them to fish out unregistered operators along the Lekki-Epe corridor, affirming that Lekki –Epe Expressway would be a pilot test for the standardization of the transportation system in Lagos.