Posted by By Kazeem Ugbodaga on
At least 16 million Lagosians have boarded the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) buses in the last six months, Commissioner for Transportation, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, disclosed yesterday.
At least 16 million Lagosians have boarded the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) buses in the last six months, Commissioner for Transportation, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, disclosed yesterday.
He said since the scheme was launched in April, more Lagosians have been patronizing the buses because of its reliability and described the BRT scheme as a success story. The scheme has complemented the efforts of the state government in boosting Lagos state's mega-city status.
Badejo promised that the state government would strictly enforce the ban on commercial motorcycle riders not to carry two passengers at a time.
According to him, the decision by governor Babatunde Fashola to clamp down on Okada riders was in order as the motorbikes had been used several times to rob innocent Lagosians. He appealed to the police to assist the state government in enforcing the order.
Badejo added that the state was determined to also enforce the 8 p.m. restriction placed on Okada riders operating in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and some parts of Ikeja, as well as the 10 p.m. restriction order in other parts of the state. On the motor vehicle/spare parts dealers' license recently introduced, Badejo said it was put in place to curb the excesses of the dealers.
He reiterated that quacks abound in the industry and that there was need to get rid of them in order to engender public confidence in the dealers.
The commissioner re-emphasised that with the introduction of the motor vehicle/spare parts dealers' law, it would be difficult for anyone to sell stolen vehicles in the state. On the menace of tanker drivers, Badejo disclosed that the state would soon convene a stakeholders' forum involving the state government, tanker drivers and their owners. He said the aim of the one-day forum was to let the stakeholders know the modalities for operating in the state.