To curb carnages on its ever-busy roads, the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSC), in conjunction with Lagos Bus Service Limited (LBSL), has organised a comprehensive training programme for drivers of the Lagos Bus Service Limited (LBSL), popularly known as BRT Captains.
The training, themed “The Mind Behind the Wheel,” was held at the LBSL headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos. It focused on improving drivers’ knowledge of road safety practices, emergency response, and accident-prevention mechanisms.
Declaring the programme open, the Director-General of the Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, noted that global reports and local statistics consistently show that over 75 per cent of road accidents are caused by human error. He emphasised that continuous training, awareness, and attitude change are the most effective strategies for reducing crashes and saving lives.
“Every driver here must consider themselves fortunate to participate in this training. The knowledge and skills you are receiving today will make you safer behind the wheel and protect millions of Lagosians who rely on the BRT system for daily commuting. This is part of the Commission’s commitment to reducing road crashes per Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES-Plus agenda, particularly its transportation and traffic management pillar,” Mojola said.
He revealed that over five million people worldwide have benefitted from similar safety training, with encouraging feedback from commuters and drivers.
The safety commission boss expressed optimism that the BRT-focused programme would further entrench global best practices in the State’s public transport sector.
In his speech, the Managing Director/CEO of LBSL, Mr. Idowu Oguntona, described the initiative as demonstrating the government’s commitment to safe mobility in a densely populated city like Lagos. He disclosed that the BRT system has moved more than 60 million passengers across different routes in the state so far, maintaining an impressive safety record.
“Transportation is the lifeblood of a megacity like Lagos,” Oguntona said. “As an agency, we are committed to continuously upgrading our drivers’ capacity, because they carry the responsibility of millions of lives daily. This training gives them the tools to remain vigilant, disciplined, and professional in service delivery.”
The representative of the managing director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mr. Poju Fowokan, commended the initiative and urged drivers to take personal responsibility for their actions on the road.
He described LBSL as a model of efficient urban transport and charged the agency not to relent in sustaining the high standards expected of the BRT system.
