26 March 2008
Lagos — After much delay, the Lagos State Government on March 17, kick- started its Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system in the state. Although an initiative of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), the BRT is a collaboration between the public and private sectors in that the buses are totally funded by banks for various motor drivers' unions while the state government guaranteed the repayment of the loans and made available the exclusive lanes for the BRT buses.
The new initiative is aimed at improving the transport situation in Lagos and its metropolis and to bring some order into the chaotic transport system in the city and its metropolis. When in full swing, BRT is expected to bring succour to millions of people in the state who are always trapped in the chaotic transport system in the state.
The BRT is innovative and a bold step in transportation. We commend the Lagos State government for it. There is no doubt that a lot of planning and resources have gone into the introduction of the BRT system. For example, the Lagos State government expanded sections of the roads, constructed new bus stops, provided good lighting system along the routes and the BRT lanes were clearly demarcated. Also, a management team was put in place to recruit and train drivers who would drive the buses.
Over the years, traffic situation in Lagos has defied solutions. The Jakande administration tried the odd and even number system to deal with the situation between 1979 and 1983. He also made elaborate plans for a metro rail system to tackle the intractable transport system in Lagos. However, this lofty idea was killed by the military takeover of government in December 1983. Successive governments in the state have not stopped thinking of what to do about the chaotic transport system in the state. Unfortunately, no bold step was taken to deal with the situation until the introduction of the BRT system.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the idea of BRT was copied from the advanced countries where lanes are designed for certain types of buses. This may not be very possible in Lagos owing to the cost implications. Albeit, every effort must be made to domesticate the BRT system and ensure that it works without much stress.
Already, the Lagos state Government has trained and deployed more than 400 LASTMA and KAI workers to make the system work. However, it should be realised that LASTMA and KAI officials would not be around all the time to enforce compliance with the rules and regulations of the BRT by motorists. A lot of public enlightenment is, therefore, needed to engender compliance with the BRT rules and regulations. Also, a lot of discipline would be needed on the part of road users to make the BRT work. Already, there are criticisms of the penalty for motorists who use the BRT lanes during the operating hours of the system. Certainly, a fine of N50, 000 for such offenders is too harsh and should be reviewed downwards.
Much of Lagos State is surrounded by water. The implication of this is that water transport should take a pride of place in the state. Unfortunately, this has not been so. Although the Jakande administration from 1979 to 1984 purchased many water crafts and introduced water transport from many points on the Mainland to Lagos Island and Ikoyi, the succeeding administrations paid lip service to water transport. The result is that almost all the public water transport crafts purchased and used during the Second Republic in the state have been grounded due to lack of maintenance or abandoned.
Such abandonment of lofty ideas and assets is not new. If anything, it is symptomatic of the public sector enterprises in the country. It has lingered over the years because of the general belief that what belongs to all belongs to nobody. It is a good thing that a few private sector operators are still operating water transport system in the state. The state government should provide necessary incentives to such private sector operators of ferries and other watercrafts in the state to enable them improve on the number of crafts deployed for transport.
In addition, the state government should provide modern jetties at the points of loading and disembarkation. It should also encourage the private sector operators to expand their services to remote areas like Ikorodu, Ijede and Ajah from Mile 2, Lagos Island and Apapa, among others.
Going forward, there is need for access roads to decongest the main artery routes carrying the heavy vehicular traffic. Also, there is an urgent need for the development of water, land and light rail system to decongest the main artery routes. In particular, work should be expedited on the proposed light rail system designed to link Okokomaiko to Marina on Lagos Island. The light rail is designed to carry up to 200 million people a year.
The BRT initiative has shown that, the private sector should be allowed to provide needed transport facilities with the state government providing the neccessary incentives and other enabling environment to encourage more private sector participation in the multi-layered transport system in the state, at affordable prices.
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