Apart from commissioned Ikeja Bus Terminal, 13 more facilities underway—Ambode
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Ladi Lawanson, has revealed that apart from the delivered Ikeja Bus Terminal and the near-completion Oshodi Bus Interchange Terminal, additional 13 more terminals are underway in parts of the state.
Speaking during a recent media tour to both the Ikeja and yet to be completed Oshodi Bus Terminals, Lawanson noted that the target of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration is to revolutionise road transport system to create salutary infrastructure that will move the approximate 12 million Lagosians that are on the road on a daily basis with ease.
He revealed that the terminals are designed to end metropolitan transport insecurity, unreliability, accident and mugging associated with the current commercial Yellow Bus regime in the state.
According to him, the construction is ongoing in 13 different bus terminals across the state with the aim of ensuring that more people embrace public transportation and that sanity returns to the roads.
According to him, “We have Alapere Bus Shelter, Ilupeju Bus depot, Yaba Bus Terminal, Anthony Bus depot, Maryland Bus Terminal, Agege Bus Terminal, Ojota Bus Terminal, Oyingbo Bus Terminal, Tafawa Balewa Square Bus Terminal among other proposed corridors.
“These facilities will provide over 3000 jobs for youths and increase transport connections and inter modal connectivity in the state.
Buttressing Lawanson’s explanation during the tour, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan averred that the upgraded transportation facilities are being put in place to cater for low and medium income residents who cannot afford to fuel their own cars every day and high end residents who want to detach themselves from the daily driving hassles on the highways.
In his further submission, Bamigbetan said “We are expecting over 800 buses that the government has procured to kick-start operation for the benefit of the residents”.
On the new Ikeja Bus Terminal, he revealed that it remains a major transportation infrastructure constructed to improve efficiency, adding that 23 routes would be serviced from the terminal and while the facility would be servicing 400,000 passengers daily.
Continuing, he said “It would reduce traffic congestion, occasioned by the present street loading and dropping off of passengers and reduce environmental pollution”.
“The Ikeja terminal has facility to cater for 100 buses daily and the government hoped to take off with the Ikeja-Obalende route before June ending.
Explaining more in an exclusive interview with Business Hilights, the Managing Director Planet Project, Mr. Biodun Otunola said the Ikeja Bus Terminal which sits on 10,000 square metres of land is more than a bus stop as “some ignorant critics have lately being ranting.”
“The facility has a sheltered walkway, 13 ticketing booths, an ATM gallery, and a food court. Also, the facility has a functional Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) which makes routes and travel planning easy. The terminal is provided with conveniences for both sexes and free wifi spot for the use of commuters waiting for their bus boarding time.
While conducting media executives round the Oshodi Bus Terminal and Interchange, Otunola disclosed that “The iconic terminal on completion would be servicing 300,000 passenger traffic every day, which he said is projected to hit one million in the next five years”.
According to him, each of the three wings five-floor terminals, which would be completed with a skywalk is the first of its kind in the world.
“While Terminal One is intercity transport, Terminal Two exclusively services intra city transportation, while Terminal Three would service Lagos Island, Ikorodu corridor. Each terminals is one five floors, has multi level car park, conveniences, six lifts and one escalator each, food court, a park and ride facility, cctv system, holding bay with capacity for 70 buses and a control centre,” Planet Project boss averred.
Indications are rife that the Oshodi interchange will be delivered by October this year or before the end of the year.
