The Lagos State Government on Wednesday announced the restriction of interstate buses operating along Ikorodu Road from going beyond Ojodu Berger and Ojota Motor Parks.
The State Government has also issued a 7-Day ultimatum to Inter-state bus operators to relocate designated motor parks in Ojodu Berger and Ojota, after which stiff sanctions would apply to offenders.
Speaking after embarking on a joint inspection tour of ongoing construction of the Modern Bus Terminal at Yaba and the beautification project at Jibowu, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde said the decision of the government was in line with the determination of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration to free the city of avoidable nuisances and install sanity and civility in the environment and for development.
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Mr Ayorinde said the inspection was a follow-up to an earlier visit by the Governor to the area, adding that all the necessary quit notices had already been served on the affected bus operators.
“Henceforth, they will have to go to Ojota and Ojodu Berger which are the two designated inter-state motor parks respectively for such buses. The ones that we have here in Jibowu will have to move”
Speaking of the reason for the ban, Ayorinde said activities of the operators had not been tidy and decent despite repeated warnings, and that government could no longer sit and watch such to continue in the overall interest of the people.
He said: “Take for instance, the New Jersey Barricades here are being destroyed and they are built with taxpayers money. Yes, the initial accident was caused by a vehicle but we have seen people showing disrespect to taxpayers money and that we can no longer allow.
“We have also seen the way vegetal nuisance have taken over everything particularly areas that are being used by the operators of the interstate buses in-spite of the repeated warnings that this is no longer acceptable. Sometimes you come here late in the night and you encounter criminal elements and the government is saying we can no longer take this.
“In the overall interest of the public, what is tidy, what is decent and civilized is to move them where they really belong so that we can free the city and you know what we are doing in terms of the overall plans for the city. There are major bus terminals springing up. People have seen what we are doing in Yaba which will be ready by December; they have seen what we have done in TBS and Ikeja, which are all part of the overall plan. And part of what the Governor has said is that every area like that, we will add a beautification plan to it. So, what we have done is in the best interest of Lagosians, taxpayers and the public,” the Commissioner said
Mr Ayorinde also urged stakeholders to work with government, assuring that the development would not in any way affect their businesses and livelihood.
Also speaking, the State’s Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Anofiu Elegushi said the ban was part of the plan of the government to properly utilize spaces under flyovers and bridges.
He assured that government had already provided more than enough spaces for the affected operators at Ojodu Berger and Ojota, saying that a stakeholders’ meeting would also be held this week to discuss and allocate spaces for operators at the parks.
He said at the expiration of the ultimatum, the government would enforce the ban and any operator who flouted the directive would be seriously sanctioned.
On her part, the new General Manager of Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Bilikisu Adebiyi-Abiola said the government was already working on an intensive design for the beatification project to be sighted within Jibowu and Yaba axis, adding that the project would soon be implemented.
She said the project was part of the Greener Lagos Plan which the present administration had set out to achieve.
“The Greener Lagos Plan is for the benefit of all Lagosians so that our children can use them and it is also important for our health because we are going to introduce greenery, trees and plants that would help the environment,”
Lagos Island, Mile 2 and Festac are currently being considered for the beautification project in the short time, while there are massive plans to extend the project to all parts of the State.
The LASPARK boss also said the agency was already working with project contractors and partners to comply with the standards, while also assuring that the agency would enforce compliance with the required standards.
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