AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY MR BABAJIDE OLUSOLA
SCHEME HELD ON TUESDAY 18 MAY 2021 AT LAGOS HOUSE
IKEJA.
Protocol.
Almost exactly two years ago, we came to office with a promise to
Lagosians to deliver a Greater Lagos. We have worked tirelessly
since then to continue to fulfill this promise, through bold and
decisive actions firmly anchored on our T.H.E.M.E.S.
developmental agenda.
In this regard, we are very much aware of the role transportation
plays in the development of any economy. Indeed, it is the
backbone of any thriving economy. Over the last two years, we
have taken steps to birth and bequeath to Lagos State enduring transport infrastructure and systems, which future generations
would be proud of.
Our Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious road transportation
effort, that encompasses a number of transport projects, including
the construction of bus terminals and interchanges.
There are bus terminal projects in different stages of completion at
Agege, Ojota, Ajah, and the NAHCO area of the Murtala
Mohammed International Airport. We shall soon commence the
construction of two transport interchanges at Mile 2 and Marina.
These interchanges will serve as interconnecting hubs for
commuters whose journeys require more than one mode of
transport to get to their destinations.
Closely affiliated to the Bus Reform Initiative are our robust rail and
water travel transportation projects which are also gathering pace.
As regards our waterways, I am pleased to note that we are getting
set to commission six (6) new ferries into our operational fleet; in addition to being at advanced stages in the construction and
rehabilitation of fifteen (15) jetties across the State. Equally
noteworthy is the fact that two of our Intra-City Light Rail Lines will
become operational by the fourth (4th) quarter of 2022.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I have given you an extensive preamble into the transportation masterplan of our administration, so you can truly understand what we mean by a
fully inter-modal transportation system which integrates all aspects
of our roads, rail and waterways into a seamless network.
Against the backdrop of where we are gathered today is a fleet of brand-new mini buses that we will be launching shortly as the
newest component of our transformational Bus Reform Initiative,
and also known as the ‘First and Last Mile Bus Scheme’ – “FLM”.
The FLM has been conceived, as the name implies, to take care of
commuting between the main transit corridors and the hearts of our
communities, where the bulk of our people reside and where the high capacity buses would normally not pass through. It is intended
to connect various communities with one another.
This launch of the First and Last Mile (FLM) Bus Scheme is an
important milestone in our quest to achieving the intermodal
transport system which gives our teeming population the choices
they deserve, reducing congestion and journey times, and
improving the quality of life.
Very importantly, it is also about improving and guaranteeing the
security of lives and properties of Lagosians. You will recall that in
February 2020, the State Government restricted the operations of
commercial motorcycles (“Okadas”) in six (6) Local Government
Areas (LGAs), nine (9) Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs),
and 10 major highways in the State.
As a responsible government, we did this in response to two major
issues: one, the alarming statistics of fatal accidents recorded from the operations of Okadas in the State between 2016 and 2019, and
two, the exploitation of Okadas for the facilitation of crime across
the metropolis.
Unfortunately, these safety and security concerns have persisted,
more than one year after the rollout of these restrictions. Which is
why, on Monday last week, we held a Town Hall Meeting to
deliberate extensively on issues of security in Lagos State, with
various stakeholders cutting across the fields of Law Enforcement;
Civil Society Organizations; Labor Union Leaders; Royal Fathers
and Religious Bodies.
It is instructive to note that some of the key resolutions from the
town hall meeting identified various issues as being the root cause
of the increase in crime rate being witnessed in the State. Notable
amongst these identified problems is the lingering menace of
Okadas being used to perpetrate traffic robberies, carjacking,
kidnapping, conveying arms, as well as other nefarious activities.
In response to the growing concern over the increased rate of crime
in the State, the Stakeholders resolved unanimously and
unequivocally to take certain key and bold steps to curb this
escalating menace, and seek to restore peace and security once
again in Lagos State.
As a responsive and progressive government committed to good
governance which ensures all voices and opinions are heard, we
assured the meeting of immediate and comprehensive measures
to be unveiled in the coming days, to concretize some of the
proposals and resolutions emanating from the Meeting.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, today’s launch of the
FLM is therefore in fulfilment of one of the measures we promised
as a solution to the security situation, and as discussed at our
recent Security Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting. The goal is the
full implementation of a safer and more efficient alternative
transport solution, that takes out the need for Okadas and replaces them with the FLM buses, thus curbing the incidence of Okadarelated crimes and robberies.
Further to the launch of these buses, I am using this medium
to restate our earlier pronouncement on the operations of
commercial motorcycles (Okadas) and tricycles (Keke
Napeps) in Lagos State. To reiterate, all Okadas and Keke
Napeps are restricted from operating in the following
• Six (6) Local Government Areas: Surulere; Lagos
Mainland; Lagos Island; Ikeja; Eti Osa and Apapa;
• Nine (9) Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs):
Apapa-Iganmu; Coker-Aguda; Itire-Ikate; Yaba; Ojodu;
Onigbongbo; Lagos Island East; Iru-Victoria Island; IkoyiObalende; and
• Eleven (11) major highways in the State: Lagos-Ibadan
Expressway; Apapa-Oshodi Expressway; Oworonshoki-
Oshodi Expressway; Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway; LagosAbeokuta Expressway; Third Mainland Bridge; EtiOsa/Lekki-Epe Expressway;Lagos-Badagry Expressway;
Funsho Williams Avenue; Agege Motor Road and Eti-Osa
Lekki Coastal Road.
There will be zero tolerance for defaulting Okada riders who insist
on riding their Okadas within the restricted areas. We will be
charging our law enforcement agencies to strictly enforce this
restriction, as we will be going in heavy on recalcitrant offenders
who persist in flouting the restrictions.
We will continue to monitor and assess the situation over the next
one-two months and tweaking our response appropriately to
ensure that ultimately, we are winning the war against crime and
criminality associated with Okadas. If we do not see any
improvement, we will have no choice but to go for a full and
complete ban on Okada activities in the state.
For ease of implementation of the new FLM Bus Scheme, Lagos
has been clearly outlined into seven zones, as follows:
Zone 1 covers Ikeja and Ketu
Zone 2: Oshodi, Mushin, and Surulere
Zone 3: Berger, Yaba and Oyingbo
Zone 4: Lagos Island, Ajah and Ibeju Lekki
Zone 5: Iyana-ipaja and Agege
Zone 6: Mile 2, Iyana-Iba and Ajeromi, and
Zone 7: Ikorodu
Zone 8: Epe and Badagry
For a successful operation of the scheme, we have recognized the
roles of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)
and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria
(RTEAN) as major stakeholders in the entire Bus Reform Initiative.
All the Unions’ branches within the FLM zones will participate
actively in the implementation of the new Bus Scheme.
We shall continue to enforce all the stipulations and prohibitions of
the Road Traffic Law, including driving against traffic, popularly
known as “One Way” driving. Let me highlight the fact that driving
against traffic now attracts a 3-year jail term, for repeat offenders.
First-time offenders are liable to a one-year jail term in addition to
their vehicle being forfeited to the State Government.
The Lagos State Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Law,
which has placed a ban on street trading, equally remains in full
force. There are consequences for violating this law. I want to
therefore appeal to our market men and women to desist from
trading in all unauthorized areas.
I wish to appeal to all Lagosians to cooperate with the State
Government in our collective vision of making Lagos a livable place
for all, a State where legitimate dreams are achieved; a State
where we all carry out our legitimate activities within the ambit of
the law; where there is respect for the safety and convenience of
other residents.
When we break the laws of the land, what we are doing is expressing disregard for the well-being of others, as these laws are
made to ensure the greatest good for the greatest number of
people.
In this vein, I wish to call on the National Union of Road Transport
Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of
Nigeria (RTEAN) and all other stakeholders in the public
transportation value chain, to ensure that these new buses are well
maintained and protected, so that the lofty goals of the new service
can be fully realized, and so that all those who have invested can
derive maximum value from their investments.
Our Local Government and Local Council Development Area
chairpersons must play their part in ensuring the roads are free
from encumbrances likely to impede the smooth running of the
Buses.
I am also using this opportunity to charge our security and law
enforcement agencies to be alive to the crucial role they have to
play in the success of this new Scheme. You are expected to avoid
any conduct that impedes or complicates the smooth running of the
Scheme. Instead you must see yourselves as dutiful enforcers of
the laws of the land, as well as facilitators of a successful
implementation.
I want to also appeal to the operators of the FLM Bus Scheme to
play according to the rules. We shall not shy away from imposing
the maximum penalty in cases where existing agreements and
extant Road Traffic Laws are infringed upon.
I would like to use this occasion to appreciate Providus Bank for
providing the financial backing for the FLM Bus Scheme. Equally, I
want to thank Origin Group, the vendor for the buses, for doing a
great job and believing in our vision for an efficient and fit-forpurpose transport system for our people.
Let me also recognize and appreciate the huge work being done
by the Lagos State transport family, in making sure we give a good
account of ourselves under the Traffic Management and
Transportation developmental pillar of our T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda. I
congratulate the Ministry of Transportation, and the Management
of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), for
making the FLM bus scheme a reality.
It is now my pleasure to formally commission the FLM Bus Scheme
for passenger operations, for the use and benefit of the good
people of our dear Lagos State.
Thank you and God bless.
Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Governor of Lagos State
Tuesday, 18th May 2021
