THE Lagos State Government has said that construction works are ongoing in 13 different bus terminals that will employ 3000 youths in the State. This is even as it revealed that over 800 buses have been procured to kick-start operations at the newly inaugurated Ikeja Bus Terminal.
Speaking over the weekend during a media tour to both the Ikeja and the not-yet-completed Oshodi Bus Terminals, The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. 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.
“This Facilities will provide over 3,000 jobs for youths and increase transport connections and inter-modal connectivity in the State.
He 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.
“The idea is to cater for Lagos residents of especially lower and middle classes, who cannot afford to fund their own cars every day”.
“We should be expecting some buses like over 800 that Lagos State Government has procured to kick-start operation for the benefit of the residents,” the Lagos Commissioner of Transportation explained.
The Commissioner also noted that Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, has about 900,000 inhabitants, adding that It is also a major transport hub on the Lagos mainland, as it is a major node of very important corridors in Lagos such as Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Agege Motor Road, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Oba Akran Way and Awolowo Way.
“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,” he said.
Mr Ladi said that Ikeja Bus Terminal was a small component of the big picture of multimodal transport system planned by the government, adding that the proposed Oshodi Transport Interchange –where three terminals will be integrated for buses to move people within and outside the state – is another big reform project of the government.
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 Africas 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, The Managing Director, Planet Projects, Mr Biodun Otunla 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.
He said that the Ikeja terminal bus is sitting on a land size of 10000 square metres and assured that all the requirements needed to make the journey comfortable and safe.
