Lagos State Government has commenced a move to eradicate all illegal interstate parks operating in the state, saying that the state had commenced streamlining all affected parks to ensure that only those accredited by the state government would be allowed to operate.
The State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Seun Osiyemi, made this known on Friday at a press briefing that took place at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, saying that the move that had commenced was taken in order to allow effective monitoring of the movement of passengers in and out of the state and ensure their safety and security.
Osiyemi said the accredited parks envisaged would have all the facilities required of them to meet the demands of a decent park, such as public toilets, entry and exit points, and banning of sales of hard drugs, alcohol, and marijuana.
According to the commissioner, the first step to be taken by the state government was to accredit all the parks that meet the standard and display them on the web for the public to see.
Osiyemi insisted that every piece of information pertaining to the passengers patronising the park shall be put in the manifest, which the state government will download into her portal, saying that the state government would work on the information on her portal in case of any incident.
The commissioner argued that the essence of the sanitisation of the parks was to bring about a transportation system that everybody could rely on, disclosing that the job had been contracted to a consultant, even as he insisted that what the state was keen on was sanity at the parks and not the pecuniary gain.
“Alongside this, we are also implementing an accreditation system for all interstate parks, setting a new standard of quality, safety, and service for all operators.
“The first component of this project is the accreditation of all interstate parks across Lagos State. Parks that meet our minimum safety and service standards will receive the Ministry of Transportation’s official certification.
“This is a collective move towards a safer, more reliable interstate travel experience for every Lagosian. The second part of this project focuses on transforming our manifest system into a digital, centralised platform. Each passenger’s information will now be digitally recorded, ensuring that data is secure, accurate, and instantly accessible to the necessary authorities.
“This project certainly will benefit the Passengers, Park Operators and the state. For the passengers, they will experience increased safety, reliability, and convenience. Knowing that their travel information is securely recorded offers reassurance that, should any incidents occur, Lagos State’s emergency services are equipped with the tools and data they need to respond effectively.
“For accredited park operators, they gain a mark of quality that enhances their reputation and attracts more passengers. With the infrastructure upgrades provided, operators have an opportunity to elevate service quality and play a direct role in creating a safer transportation system,” he stated.
“As for the state, this initiative marks a vital step in the modernisation of our transportation sector. The project not only strengthens public safety but also generates employment opportunities and provides valuable data to guide urban planning and transportation policy.
“By enforcing park standardisation and leveraging digital technology, Lagos is leading the way in innovative, forward-thinking governance,” he added.
According to the representative of the consultant, Olamide Afolabi, a monitoring team has been set up to seal off any interstate park that is not approved by the state government and without an emblem of approval.
Afolabi added that the consultant would also give the necessary assistance to upgrade any inter park that the passengers were conversant with in ensuring it met the standard required by the state government.
Also speaking, Lagos State Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Road Transportation Workers (NURTW), Mr Usman O. Teslim, said the union was in total support of transforming manifest from analogue to digital, disclosing that the union had been part of the initiative since its inception.
Teslim expressed the belief that everybody would be happy about the initiative when fully implemented, stating that Lagos State chose to embark on that step because it appreciated the importance of transportation in Nigeria.
Mr. Paul Okoghenun, who represented Public Transport Owners of Nigeria at the event, said the union was yet to reach a consensus on the new innovation but quickly noted that the move by the state government was towards reducing illegal interstate parks to the bearest minimum.
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