Admin I November 5, 2016
Lagos, Nigeria – Ahead of plans to introduce Intelligent Traffic System along the BRT corridor, Lagos State Government has taken steps to relocate all other franchises from the use of the corridor.
Announcing this over the weekend, Acting Commissioner for Transportation, prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi stated that with effect from Monday, 7th November, 2016 all LAGBUS buses will no longer utilize the BRT corridor to load, drop and travel.
Henceforth, he stated the LAGBUS buses can only provide end to end bus services using the Expressway and service lanes along the Ikorodu Road stretch.
Explaining the decision, the Acting Commissioner noted that the State Government is determined to enhance and boost commuters experience along the corridor adding that the present arrangement has constrained the capacity of the BRT bus services to cater for the people.
He further stated that the restriction does not extend to charter staff buses run by LAGBUS; does not preclude access to depot along Ikorodu road and express services are allowed with only few designated stops.
All routes from Ikorodu hinterland will now terminate at TOS Benson bus stop after which there will be no loading of passengers.
However, the operations of LAGBUS buses have been moved to other 14 routes identified by the Lagos State Metropolitan Transport Master plan. He added that one other route will take off before the end of the year.
Declaring the new plan as in being in the overall interest of Lagosians, the Commissioner also banned the on board sales of tickets on board buses desorbing it as the harbinger of unstructured service.
He disclosed that the information as to the new routes had earlier been conveyed to stakeholders at a parley.
He assures that in the aftermath of this, the State Government has concluded arrangement to allocate new routes to the operator of LAGBUS franchise.
Elegushi also noted that the State Government has also committed to providing appropriate facilities that would provide the support to make their operations more efficient and effective.
He urge Lagosians to see this gesture as an attempt to serving them better and therefore be willing to support the initiative.
