No fewer than 51,178,690 passengers were conveyed by red buses operating under the Lagos State Government-owned LAGBUS buses across the different routes in Lagos in the last one year.
Mr Kayode Opeifa, Commissioner for Transportation, disclosed this on Friday in Ikeja at a news briefing organised to mark Gov. Babatunde Fashola`s sixth year in office.
He described the feat as unprecedented, adding that it was achieved by the deployment of an additional 364 buses across the different BRT routes.
The commissioner said the state government had licenced more franchisees to operate buses on new routes, to improve commuters’ access to the BRT system.
On the problem of rickety buses, Opeifa said the government had finalised arrangements with the operators, to re-fleet and get the required spare-parts for the faulty ones.
“The government is also monitoring franchisees to ensure that they operate within our regulatory framework.
“Three erring operators have been sanctioned, while some others are being questioned on various issues,” he said.
The commissioner said the ongoing expansion of Ikorodu Road by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) was part of government`s efforts to expand BRT infrastructure.
Opeifa said that the government had also acquired more ferries and built modern jetties across the state, to boost water transportation.
He said the government planned the introduction of cable cars to ply routes in Apapa and Ikoyi as part of efforts to provide more transportation options for residents.
He said the promulgation of traffic laws, which restricted motorcycle operations on 475 roads, had reduced `Okada’- related accidents and deaths by as much as 80 per cent.
The commissioner added that the legislation had made the state safer.
Opeifa said the state government had erected 25,000 traffic signal lights in the last one year, to enhance traffic management in the state.
He added that the state government was boosting the capacity of men of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) with training and equipment, to ensure efficiency.
Opeifa also clarified that the introduction of uniforms for drivers and conductors was being delayed by logistic issues, adding that the programme would take off soon.
The commissioner restated the commitment of the state government to establish a modern rail transportation, adding that the ongoing light rail project was aimed at achieving that.
NAN
