Nigeria, June 2016 – Determined to improve commuters experience on Lagos roads, the Ministry of Transportation has called on the Nigerian Media to actively partner with it to change the attitude of commuters on the road.
Making this call at a recent meeting with the Nigeria Auto Journalist Association, Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola said poor road culture manifesting as gross disregard for traffic laws, regulations and rules are the ingredients of hiccups on Lagos roads.
He stated that partnership with the media will ensure the issues are put in the public space adding that optimal benefit of government’s efforts to improve road experience by all road users will only result when discipline and patience are imbibed as essential feature of commuting.
Mobereola opined that the Strategic Transportation Masterplan of the Administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is made up of a 30 year plan involving the development of 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes; six rail routes, 450 other bus routes and 24 water transportation routes.
He noted that the design takes cognizance of the land use patterns and is founded on the principle of partnership with the private sector.
The Commissioner stated that the interest of the end user is critical to any policy initiative, while the state government is also of the view that all efforts at providing transport services will include consideration for comfort and affordability.
He said providing air conditioned buses is a top priority, adding that the duration for providing rail system may be long but the period of use and benefits usually last longer.
Mobereola further said that reaching the 22 million commuters in Lagos is important to the Ministry and that synergy between all modes is essential for it to be cheaper and effective.
Speaking further on the protection of pedestrians, especially at zebra crossing, he stated that as an advocate of comfort and liberty, the State is committed to non–motorized transport which informed the provision of walkways on the roads as well as improvement in the use of pedestrian bridge and provision of adequate road signs.
He assured that all buses being used for BRT operations are backed by manufacturer’s maintenance agreements to ensure adequate and proper maintenance.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association, Mr. Frank Kintun, while acknowledging the efforts of the Lagos State Government in the provision of BRT buses to Lagosians said that government should not relent in its efforts at providing more buses as well as improving other forms of transportation to make life easy for Lagosians as well as decongest gridlocks on our roads.
Kintun who was in the Ministry with other members of the Association expressed the readiness of the Journalists covering the transportation sector to keep enlightening and sensitizing the public on the need to obey traffic rules and regulations, adding that lack of patience and discipline on our roads leads to flagrant disobedience of the law which at the end of the day affects everyone adversely.
