Lagos transport operators provide 30 mass transit buses

In its continued effort to cushion the effects of the restriction of the movement of commercial motorcyclists, the Lagos State Government on Thursday inaugurated 30 new luxury buses provided by transport operators for intra city transportation.

The government had last week also inaugurated 10 buses in addition to the existing Bus Rapid Transit and LAGBUS fleet of buses plying roads in the metropolis.

The latest buses were provided by the Lagos Integrated Transport Cooperative Society and TRANSMODAL Nigeria Limited.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that LASITCOS has provided 10 Tata buses, while TRANSMODAL brought in 20.

NAN further reports that LASITCOS buses will operate along Abesan-Idimu, Ikotun-Ejigbo, Cele-Express-Oshodi-Mile 2 axis; while the TRANSMODAL buses will ply Agbara-Okokomaiko, Mile 2-Tin Can Island and Orile to TBS routes.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said within the first quarter of 2013, more buses would be provided by other partners in the transport sector.

Opeifa said a major challenge facing the operators of the buses was the non-availability of qualified drivers to sustain and maintain the vehicles.

He said, “The process of engaging a driver is very long and tedious, and we have to go through this process because we do not want to go into the problem of the past.

“The franchises have been going through this process to get the best drivers that will deliver the best to the people of Lagos State.”

NAN reports that the partners were given franchise certificates by the Managing Director, LAGBUS Asset Management Limited, Mr. Babatunde Disu.

Disu promised Lagos residents that under the franchise, they would enjoy better, reliable, comfortable and affordable transport services.

He said that although there were other commercial buses as competitors, there would be collaborative efforts to manage a good transport service to alleviate hardship.

Disu said the new buses would assist in creating jobs for some of the residents.

He called on other private transport organisations to partner with the state government to improve the sector.