Lagos plans additional 2,050 BRT buses to ease transportation hitches
Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi has said, the state government is planning to buy no fewer than 2,050 vehicles to ease movement across the state. Osiyemi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday. He said the procurement of the vehicles –Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) — would further address queues in bus stations. According to him, more BRT buses will also be provided with the support of an oil company that has promised to support government’s effort.
He said: “We’re aware of the long queues in all our stations, especially on Mondays. “We’re working better to serve the good people of Lagos State. “We’re almost done with the procurement of 2,000 BRT buses to ease the queues in the stations. “You know Lagos State believes in public and private partnership. “Therefore, an oil company is giving us 50 electric buses in addition to the ones the state government is procuring.”
About the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
To solve the major transportation problems in Lagos, the BRT Lite was commissioned into passenger service in March 2008 along the CMS-Mile 12 Corridor as a pilot of a fast, reliable, comfortable, and accessible bus-based transport system.
The first phase of the Lagos BRT was opened on 17th of March 2008, although it was initially slated for opening in November 2007. The initiative to build the system was initiated by the government of the previous governor, Bola Tinubu.[2] It goes from Mile 12 through Ikorodu Road and Funsho Williams Avenue up to CMS. At the moment, the Lagos BRT Corridor has been extended from Mile 12 to Ikorodu, which is the second phase of BRT implementation. With the approval of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the construction of a new BRT corridor along Oshodi to Abule-Egba has commenced under the supervision of LAMATA.
