Lagos to kick off bus reform project with 820 buses

The Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday said plans have been firmed up to roll out the Bus Reform Project of the state government in March with 820 high and medium capacity buses, saying that the initiative would redefine public transportation and make the state globally competitive. 

The governor, who said this during an inspection tour of ongoing projects across the state, said the initiative was designed to inject 5,000 buses and modern terminals to facilitate ease of mobility for residents and also rev up Lagos economy, among others.

While inspecting the assembling plant at Awoyaya in Ibeju Lekki, which is also serving as the temporary holding bay for 500 out of the 820 buses, Ambode expressed optimism that the buses would be rolled out after the elections, while the next phase of the project would be to assemble the buses in Lagos.

“This is an assembling plant. The dream is that beyond the procurement of 820 buses by government, the next set of buses should be assembled in Lagos in this assembling plant and another one in Epe,” he said.

The governor said though the 5,000 buses would not be enough for the state, but government was showing good example and creating the conducive atmosphere to allow the private sector to come in and participate in the arrangement.

Among the projects inspected are Oshodi Transport Interchange, which is 85 per cent completed; Bus Depot at Oshodi, Yaba, Oyingbo to be ready by March; International Airport Road to be ready by early May; Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT Corridor to be delivered by April; and vehicle assembling plant at Awoyaya in Ibeju Lekki.