LASG to digitalize interstate transportation, ban small buses, tricycles

By Temitope Adebayo

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, has revealed the LASG plans to digitalize the interstate transportation system, to ban small buses popularly known as Korope, and Tricycles from plying the express road.

Osiyemi revealed this at the media parley held at Ikeja to highlight the state’s ongoing transportation initiatives and the importance of media collaboration.

According to him, we are removing Korope’s and Marua’s from the express road, we’ll standardize them. The Koropes will join the last mile buses to be plying their routes.

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“Their drivers will go and register with Lagos State Driver’s Institute (LASDRI) and then with Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) like a corporation or company. They will change their bus color and be using Cowry cards as a mode of payment.

“We are also digitalizing the interstate transportation system by collection of data on people entering and leaving Lagos through interstate parks.

“This data will aid in planning, enhancing security, and improving transport management. Additionally, the ministry plans to classify and standardize interstate parks, ensuring electronic payments and better monitoring,” he added

The commissioner also outlined the objectives and progress of the newly launched transport policy, referring to it as the “roadmap for transportation in Lagos State.

He described the policy as a phased plan, broken down into short-term (zero to two years) and medium-term (two to five years) goals. This approach aims to transform Lagos into a more integrated and efficient city.

Osiyemi acknowledged the specialized roles of agencies like LAMATA and LASWA in managing rail, bus, and water transportation systems but underscored the parent ministry’s role in ensuring robust capacity and rule enforcement.

Also speaking at the parley is the Special Advisor to the Governor on Transportation Shola Giwa stressed that the purpose of the event is to foster closer relationships between government officials and media professionals.

Giwa explained that the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI), is aimed at transforming Lagos’s transportation landscape.

He explained that the initiative targets mass transportation, emphasizing the government’s significant investments in rail and high-capacity buses.

“The BRI seeks to professionalize the transportation sector, moving away from the informal, fragmented approach of individual operators.

Giwa elaborated on the structured framework being introduced under the BRI. The initiative will standardize operations, requiring transport operators to consolidate under corporate entities and meet specific standards. For instance, operators must have a minimum of 15 vehicles to participate, ensuring consistency and reliability in service delivery. This move aims to eliminate informal bus operations, colloquially referred to as “co-work pay,” from major express roads.

The reform also includes the integration of technology for better regulation and enforcement. All buses will use an electronic payment system, allowing for easier monitoring and accountability. Infractions by drivers can be addressed swiftly by contacting their respective operators, streamlining the process, and reducing the need for physical enforcement.

Additionally, Giwa announced the implementation of a call-out system for trucks and tankers entering Lagos ports, set to commence on August 1st. This system will require vehicles to utilize designated parks and follow a structured entry process, aimed at reducing congestion and improving traffic flow.