Lagos Rolls To Out 2,000 Compressed Natural Gas Buses Year End

…26,000 Traffic Offences January -March in State

Segun James

Lagos State Government has said that it will roll out at least 2,000 buses using Compressed Natural Gas, (CNG) before the end the year as part of measures to mitigate the economic hardship.

Also, the government has disclosed that its Traffic Management Solution (TMS) devices, handled by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) captured over 26, 816 traffic violations between January-March, 2024.

The state’s Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi who disclosed this in Alausa during a ministerial press briefing to herald one year of the second term administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that “as we speak, we are working with private operator under the PPP arrangement to provide 2,000 CNG buses that will be available on or before the end of the year. We invite the private operator to come and participate and we will be the regulator.”

Following the removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, the Presidential initiative on CNG was launched last October; and in order to meet this target, the Federal Government is set to launch about 2,700 CNG-powered buses and three-wheelers before May 29, when President Bola Tinubu completes one year in power.

Osiyemi stressed that “We will also provide electric vehicles before June. Our people will be enjoying electric cars and that will also save us from carbon emissions.”

According to him, “In facilitating the daily transportation needs of nearly 25 million commuters within Lagos State, a series of strategic initiatives have consistently served as instruments pivotal in advancing the first pillar of the THEMES+ development agenda: Traffic Management and Transportation. Under the stewardship of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, these endeavors have been meticulously introduced to catalyze reform within the transportation sector.

“With a steadfast commitment to establishing an efficient, safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation network, as well as proficiently controlling and managing traffic flow, the state has prioritized the acceleration of its multimodal transport system. This system integrates various modes of transportation, including Rail, Water, and Bus services, as outlined in the comprehensive Lagos State Strategic Transport Master Plan.

“To manage the human interface, versatility and professionalism of Officers, training and re-training of all personnel was initiated periodically.

“The reduction of human interface in traffic management with the introduction of Traffic Management Solution, (TMS) devices, handled by the LASTMA Officers is paying off as 26, 816 violations were captured in three months of this Y2024, already, (January-March).

“To promote gender equality within the agency, LASTMA Female Elite Corps was introduced with renewed determination to make a difference in traffic management,” the Commissioner added.

He further disclosed that LASTMA is set to Launch the LASTMA Complaint Call Centre (Digital and Physical) by April, 2024 to create easy access to the Agency.

On his part, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa explained that the Red buses on Lagos roads found it difficult to follow due process by not registering with LAMATA.

“They are supposed to register with LAMATA but what we see is that they buy buses and start plying on our roads that is why we asked them to go and register. We didn’t know they are on strike, we don’t have them in our books,” Giwa noted.