By Adeyinka Aderibigbe
Lagos State Government has made the case for a national transport fund policy to help finance public sector transportation initiatives by all the states of the country.
Lagos State Transportation Commissioner Dr Frederic Oladeinde, made the case at the first plenary session of the maiden edition of the two-day National Transport and Technology Conference and Exhibition (NTTCE), organised by the conference of Nigerian transport commissioners’ forum, which held at the Eko Hotels, Lagos.
In attendance at the conference are the Commissioners of Transportation from all the states of the federation, government bureaucrats, transport stakeholders, key decision-makers, industry experts and operators in the Road, Rail, Water and Air transport sectors who discussed current and emerging trends that could be integrated into the Nigerian transportation space.
Drawing a corollary from developments in the United Kingdom and the United States where the national governments created a sinking fund to help finance the provision of the fixed stocks in the public sector transportation, Oladeinde said because transportation infrastructure is extremely expensive and with soaring costs, the Federal Government need to come up with a sinking fund, similar to what we have on education, which could be accessed by state governments to help them build infrastructural capapcity.
Giving an insight into the Lagos State government’s efforts, Oladeinde said financing intermodal transportation is expensive and many states, may be cash-strapped and unable to achieve the dream of inter-modality in their states.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Transportation, to as a matter of urgency propose to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), a fund, the modalities of which could be further streamlined to provide intervention fund for the sector.
He recommended the Federal Government should put together an executive bill on national transportation fund bill to assist the country build necessary capacity to develop the critical mass transit network needed to ensure the nation transportation is developed to capacity.
He said with a population of over 22 million, Lagos, which is the smallest state in terms of landmass, deals with over 15 million daily commuting. While the national vehicle count per average is 15 cars per km, Lagos exceeded with 223 cars per km, a development which made inter-modality imperative in the state.
Oladeinde said Lagos in compliance with its Strategic Transport Masterplan (STMP), the state has continued to develop its public sector transportation encouraging that more people drop their vehicles to embrace public transportation.
He said while government continued to increase its fleet presence in introducing high capacity buses (HCB), medium and small capacity buses, all of which are meant to take the rickety small capacity buses called Danfo off the road, it was also deepening investment in channeling more water routes and ferries, while its Blue and Red Line train system are nearing completion.
He said government is deploying technology to enhance enforcement and compliance to traffic regulations, adding that the introduction of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras across the state has boosted compliance with vehicle particulars renewals, just as the introduction of Cowry card have made fare payment seamless on the various bus transportation platforms, while efforts are ongoing to introduce same on the waterways and the two rail systems.
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Transportation Dr Medalene Ajani, commended the forum of Commissioners of Transportation in the country for birthing the conference. She said creasting a platform for public and private sector intervention in the sector will make room for improved efficiency, safety, reliability and accessibility of the people to mass transit modes.
She said the state governments must copy their sister, Lagos, in building greater capacity for inter-modal transits in their States.
Chairman of the forum of Transportation Commissioners, Hajia Ramatu Mohammed said she and her colleagues are in Lagos to learn how the state has been able to develop her capacity to cope with the challenges of urbanization and urban mobility.
According to her, saying that the conference provided an opportunity for private sector to come and exhibit their products and services that help transform the sector.