Lagos requires 15,000 high-capacity buses to meet the transportation needs of its growing population, according to Adeyemi Adeniyi, Technical Adviser for Public Transport (Road and Infrastructure) at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
Speaking at a public lecture organised by the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) in collaboration with LAMATA, Adeniyi stressed the need for innovation to expand the city’s road transport infrastructure, which he said was already overstretched.
He revealed that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system currently serves only 100,000 passengers daily—covering just 1.5% of commuters—a figure he described as grossly inadequate. He emphasised that without a robust mass transit system, reducing road congestion would be difficult.
“The reliance on single-occupant vehicles is insufficient to ease traffic congestion,” he stated.
Adeniyi also highlighted the state government’s plan to integrate Danfo buses from the informal sector into the BRT system, aiming to modernise public transport and phase out outdated vehicles.
To improve mobility, the government has introduced a rail system. The Blue Line will transport passengers between Okokomaiko and Ijanikin, while the Red Line will extend beyond Agege into Ogun State, enhancing regional connectivity.
For sustainable transport development, he outlined three key focus areas:
- Economic – Integrating commercial activities at transit terminals.
- Social – Ensuring accessibility with ramps and steps for all commuters.
- Environmental – Using renewable energy to power transport infrastructure.
Adeniyi stressed that achieving these goals requires public-private partnerships, capacity building for local engineers, and the adoption of best practices.
Credit: NAN (Text Excluding Headline)
