OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, Managing Director/CEO of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, said her Agency is championing the development of a well structured Transport system to cater for the burgeoning commuting and freighting requirement of the estimated 30 million residents of the State by 2030, reduce traffic congestions and increase traveling options as it is contained in the Lagos State Strategic Transport Master Plan, STMP.
Engr. Akinajo made the declaration as a Guest lecturer at the School of Transport and Logistic Studies of the Lagos State University, LASU, Endowed Professorial Chair Lecture on Wednesday, while speaking on a paper titled; 'Transport Infrastructure Delivery and Sustainable Development of Lagos State: The LAMATA Experience', saying, "among several transport infrastructural development projects, the State Government is planning to shore up the number of Mass capacity buses in the BRT operation to 15,000, construct additional four rail lines and a monorail."
She harped that a poorly structured public transportation system leads to chaos where the use of private vehicles becomes the best option, breeding congestions everywhere.
Akinajo stressed that with Lagos among one of the largest megacities in the World and its attendant transport challenges, many research studies were undertaken under the Lagos Urban Transport Project (LUTP) Preparatory Office to proffer long term solutions which lead to the creation of LAMATA, with a vision to provide strategic planning platform to address the long neglected transport needs of the metropolis and coordinate activities of the different executing agencies on a consistent basis, adding, "LAMATA was established and charged with the full responsibility of implementing LUTP recommendations."
She said that LAMATA was talking with transport unions in the state to ensure that both parties would work together, pointing out that more than 75,000 commercial buses, also known as ‘Danfo’, ply Lagos roads, insisting that Lagos require high capacity buses for mass transport.
Mrs Akinajo said: “We are a gas producing nation, so it makes sense for us to utilise our gas, while others talk about e-buses being the only way for sustainability, I feel it is applicable every city.
“I live in a world where I feel that, for us to begin to see sustainability, we need to go mass transportation. Today, we have over 75,000 ‘danfos’. The vision must be that we begin to look at going mass,” she said.
She said that it implied that a high capacity bus would be replacing about five commercial buses.
“That means we have railways, we have high-capacity buses,” she said.
“We are in serious conversations with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria.
“We are not replacing them. They are a core part of the transportation industry of Lagos State.
“They have years of experience which we acknowledge, and they work with us on some of our BRT routes today, but it is important they recognise that change is coming.
“I must acknowledge that the two unions have been very cooperative in the conversations we are having,” she said.
The managing director said that the state had been on its bus industry transition programme for the past 18 months.
She noted that the programme was designed to be for three years.
“The vision is: we begin to roll out high capacity buses which they will be part of.
“We must identify ways we need to phase out what we have into what we want to have; hence, the conversations we are having,” she said.
She added that universities are the academic and technical partners in the programme.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, said that Lagos State had made giant strides in transport, adding that LAMATA stood as a pillar of that progress.
Mr Olatunji-Bello was represented by the Deputy Vice chancellor (Academic), Taiwo Afisi.
“I am most delighted because this lecture marks yet another milestone for the university, as the School of Transport and Logistics brings the town to meet the gown.
“The topic for discussion is central to urban development and prosperity in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general,” He said.
Stressing that the multimodal transport system, increased capacity and improved connectivity were becoming realities for millions of residents in the state.
“At the heart of this partnership is the LASU School of Transport and Logistics, the first of its kind in West Africa, dedicated to training transport professionals, advancing research and driving transport policy innovation.”
In his goodwill message, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, represented by Engr. Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, Director, Transport Operations, emphasised the State’s unwavering commitment to sustainable transport development.
He applauded the strides made by LAMATA under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu through the innovative ideas and creativity of the Managing Director, LAMATA, Engr. Abimbola Akinajo.
Osiyemi underscored the importance of synergy between government and academia in achieving a reliable, inclusive, and future-ready transport system. He called for continued collaboration to position Lagos as a beacon of sustainable transportation across Africa.
Hon.Fredric Oladeinde, former Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, said, "This forum stands as a testament to our shared Community to building a Transport system that moves people and goods effectively, protects our environment, stimulates economic growth,and improves the overall quality of life for all residents.
" I look forward to a stronger synergy between the academia and practitioners which I would gladly want to be part of." He said.
Present at the event are; Prof. Bamidele Badejo former Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, Mr. Ajibade Adekunle, Chairman Ogun State CIOTA, representing, Seni Ogunyemi, Southwest Coordinator of CIOTA, Engr. Aderounmu Agbomeji, Director, Transport Policy and Coordination, Engr. Olusoji Adebayo, Director Public Transport & Commuter Services and other dignitaries.
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