Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will tomorrow unveil the state’s transport policy to galvanise the government’s development goals, key transportation objectives and strategic initiatives in traffic management and transportation.
Commissioner for Transport Oluwaseun Osiyemi, who announced completion of the policy document in readiness for its unveiling, explained that the policy is long overdue for a state like Lagos, ‘reputed as the commercial hub of the nation’. He added that when fully implemented, the policy document will be a catalyst for economic growth, enhance quality of life and improve overall transportation planning, design and accessibility.
The journey to the berthing of the Transport Policy began in 2017 when former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode constituted a team of experts to join the teams from the ministry and the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (LAMATA), to come up with a transportation policy befitting a mega and smart city.
According to Osiyemi, the document, which is being released five years after its initial year of release, now accommodates the state’s giant multi-modal strides among which was the delivery of two metro rail cars, one of which is electric, delivery of modern water buses for water transportation, and a robust bus reform.
The unveiling ceremony will be attended by stakeholders’ in the transportation sector, policy advocates and industry experts, who will share insights into the policy which would sanitise the sector and ensure a more efficient and sustainable transport infrastructure for residents.
Governor Sanwo-Olu will also launch 15 new boats at the Badore Ferry Terminal, Ajah, on Wednesday.
This would increase the government’s fleet to about 20.
The ferries, the government said, would be deployed in all the 11 dredged channels thereby making water transportation safer and secured for all riverine residents.
