Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday said the state would be rolling out 50 electric buses for passenger operations.
The rollout of the buses, he said, is in the pilot phase following the completion of proof of concept on the feasibility of the use of non-combustible engines as a substitute for fuel-powered vehicles in 2024.
This, the Governor stressed, would enable Lagos to progress in its zero-carbon programme, with the expectation of becoming an emission-neutral city by 2050.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed this while commissioning the fourth flyover constructed along the Lagos Rail Mass Transit red line corridor, signifying the near completion of the 37-kilometer rail network connecting Lagos and Ogun states.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu said the Ikeja flyover was inaugurated by the chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum and Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Sanwo-Olu said the state, in the first quarter of next year, would take delivery of additional 100 units of CNG buses from the federal government to be deployed on defined routes, while promising to raise the fleet to about 1,000 units before the end of next year.
“We remain committed to delivering a transport system that is safe, sustainable, integrated, seamless, and with the potential to drive the socio-economic growth and development of Lagos and the country,” Sanwo-Olu said.
AbdulRazaq described the project as “another signature achievement, noting that the project alluded to the saying that “development is a process and not a destination”.
The NGF chairman said the delivery of rail infrastructure by the Sanwo-Olu administration added another “crest of honor to the legacy of President Tinubu, whose administration in Lagos created LAMATA to drive the State’s transport vision.”
For its policy consistency and unbroken governance progression, the Kwara State Governor said Lagos remained an ideal model for other states in the country.
He said: “Lagos has been a beneficiary of bold and progressive vision built around people’s welfare. Particularly worthy of note is policy consistency and progression in governance. Successive administrations in Lagos have built on one another’s successes and projects that strengthen the state’s economic growth.
“This is adding to the legacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I believe Lagos’ example is worth emulating around the country for faster socio-economic growth, regardless of political affiliation and individual differences. Development agenda should be people-focused as it is being done in Lagos.”
Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, called on motorists and commuters to adhere strictly to safety rules when using the flyover, stressing that illegal activities, such as hawking and selling on and under the bridge were prohibited.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Lagosians experience a transit system that not only enhances connectivity but also promotes a safe environment,” the Commissioner said.
LAMATA Managing Director, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, explained that the Ikeja Overpass, which has a length of 620 meters, was designed to maximise the efficiency of Red Line and NRC train schedules by minimising delays associated with level crossings.
She disclosed that the Mushin overpass, which is the last of the five flyovers being constructed by the Lagos State Government along the Red Line alignment, has reached the completion stage.
“Mushin flyover will be commissioned before next February,” Akinajo said.
(Punch)