Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the transformation of the Obalende Bus Stop into a modern transport hub that will upgrade the Obalende loop, underbridge and adjoining lay-by, aligning with Lagos State’s mega-city vision.

The project, which will be fully sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contribution to the development of Lagos State, is expected to transform Obalende Bus Stop into an aesthetically pleasing and functional public space.

Obalende Underbridge in Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has, over the years, been a notorious corridor for miscreants, squatters and ram sellers.

The area is also characterised by abandoned vehicles, shanties, illegal settlers and indiscriminate trading activities, as well as drainage clogged with heaps of refuse. Already, the state government has evicted squatters and cleared illegal structures under the bridge.

The State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, yesterday said the proposed transformation, on which work will soon begin, will include organised and regulated bus operations, as well as well-labelled location signage.

The hub, to be named Y’ELLO Bus Park, will feature the installation of solar panels to support long-term energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. He said the new transport hub will also provide a recyclables drop-off station to promote waste management and recycling.

“Tree planting is also planned to improve air quality and enhance the visual appeal of the environment,” he said. Also to be included are road camps for Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) sweepers and security agencies, including Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and the Neighbourhood Agency.

According to Wahab, features of the new transport hub will also include food and beverage kiosks for passengers, ticketing booths and public toilets to eradicate open defecation.

The commissioner explained that the project is community-centred, aimed at improving the health, wellbeing, security and aesthetics of the Obalende area, ultimately helping to reduce the crime rate.

“The proposed hub will also contribute to protecting the integrity of the McGregor Canal, which often gets heavily silted and blocked, leading to frequent clean-up efforts by the State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources,” Wahab said.

He stated that the space currently used as the Obalende Bus Stop has grown to become one of the busiest transport hubs in Lagos, serving as a major gateway connecting Ikoyi and Victoria Island, as well as a conduit to the Mainland through the Third Mainland Bridge.

Wahab said: “Over time, rapid urbanisation, population growth and informal economic activities have altered the area’s character, with the prevalence of activities such as illegal trading, improper waste management, unauthorised use by non-state actors, lack of greening and landscaping, open defecation, shanties, illegal structures and vagrants.”

It will be recalled that Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu visited the site on February 18, 2024, confirming the sad reality of a deviation from the vision of Lagos as a mega-city.

He also observed the deteriorating aesthetics of the area, which were affecting security, public health, ease of movement and overall liveability, especially as Obalende connects to strategic business districts in Lagos.