Lagos Adds 820 Buses As Buhari Vows To Improve Security

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government is committed to improved national security, especially as regards safeguarding new investments in the economy. 

President Buhari spoke on Thursday, at the commissioning of the Ikeja Bus Terminal, built by the Lagos State government.

The new bus terminal,designed to elevate the standard of public transportation, are fitted with facilities such as passenger concourse for arrivals, ticketing unit, waiting and departure areas, loading bays, food court, ATM gallery, tax park and parking lots, among others.

Buhari said at the event that the federal government was also working to change the narrative of transportation architecture nationally.

He lauded Lagos State for taking on similar projects to cater for the state’s increasing population, estimated at 22 million.

Governor Ambode, justifying the need for the project, said it was to meet the daily connectivity needs of the people, who deserved better transportation infrastructure and services.

Ambode said in line with the resolve of his government to reform the public transport space, similar projects were being cited in different parts of the metropolis, while 820 of the 5,000 high capacity buses being brought in to strengthen the system, would arrive in September this year.

“In the last three years we have committed to revamping and providing a new integrated transport system to support our growing population. We have initiated and completed the provision of infrastructure that are scalable and would support the daily needs of our people to meet their connectivity and mobility needs,” he said.

According to Ambode, the Ikeja Bus Terminal are, therefore, part of the flagship transport infrastructure under the State Bus Reform Initiative.

He disclosed that, “the first phase of this programme will see 13 new bus terminal introduced including major terminal at Oshodi, Yaba, Ojota, Agege and the already completed Tafawa Balewa bus terminal.

“We have commenced the introduction of 5,000 new buses into the Lagos economy in the next three years. We will inject 820 environmentally-friendly high capacity buses in the first Phase One of this reform by September 2018.”

Ambode also acknowledged the approval of President Buhari for the import-duty waiver received on the buses in the Phase One of the state transport programme.