Sesan Olufowobi

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday said his administration would integrate road, rail and water systems to boost transport, adding that 5,000 new buses would soon be introduced to state roads.

Ambode, who stated this during the visit of students of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, United States of America, to the Lagos House in Ikeja, added that the government was working to improve the ways 23 million Lagosians commute.

Ambode, who noted that an integrated transport system was the key to boosting the economy of the state, explained that the first set of 5,000 new buses was the initial step to changing the existing transport system dominated by danfo (yellow buses).

He said, “We will integrate rail, road water and air transport systems in such a way that the system of connectivity is improved upon.

“Presently, we are phasing out the yellow buses. If you want to grow the economy of Lagos, transport is the key.”

Ambode noted that the dependence on road transport in the last two decades had led to a chaotic system.

“How do you move 23 million people on a daily basis from point A to point B with ease and comfort? There are eight million people walking on the streets of Lagos every minute; did we create more points for them? The answer is no. Do we have effective water transport? The answer is no. The rail system is still under construction. That is why we have congestion on the roads,” the governor said.

The governor said his administration had made a series of interventions to improve road transport, as well as making reforms in the water transport system.

Earlier, the immediate past Vice President, International Affairs of Harvard Kennedy School, Mrs. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, noted that despite the challenges of urbanisation that Lagos was facing, there was appreciable level of progress.

Copyright PUNCH.               
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]