The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has unveiled a new initiative to modernise interstate travel by introducing a digital passenger manifest system and accreditation of interstate parks.
The initiative was to enhance safety, efficiency, and reliability for travellers across the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, announced the programme during a news conference on Friday in Lagos, emphasising the government’s commitment to improving road travel for both passengers and operators.
“This is more than just a modernisation effort; it is a commitment to the safety and comfort of every traveller who moves in and out of Lagos by road,” Osiyemi said. “The goal of this initiative is straightforward: to make interstate travel safer, more efficient, and more reliable.”
Osiyemi explained that the current passenger manifest system, which was paper-based, led to inefficiencies, especially during emergencies. The new digital platform will securely capture and store passenger information in real-time, providing instant access to accurate data when needed.
“By transitioning to a fully digital platform, we aim to securely capture and store passenger information in real-time, providing immediate access to accurate data in the event of any incidents,” Osiyemi stated.
The project will also involve accrediting all interstate parks in Lagos to ensure they meet the state’s safety and service standards. Parks that meet these standards will receive official certification, providing passengers with confidence that they are boarding from a recognised and regulated facility.
“These certified parks will display prominently placed signage, assuring passengers that they are boarding from a park recognised and trusted by Lagos state,” Osiyemi said.
He added that unregulated roadside parks, often referred to as “mushroom” parks, would be required to improve their operations to meet these standards. The commissioner further highlighted that 30 parks are already regulated, while efforts are ongoing to bring over 100 unregulated parks under compliance.
“For parks that do not meet our standards, particularly the unregulated roadside ‘mushroom’ parks, they will require improvements. This is a collective move towards a safer, more reliable interstate travel experience for every Lagosian,” Osiyemi said.
The pilot phase of the project was already underway in Ojota, with stakeholders, including park operators and transport unions, participating in its development.
Olawale Musa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, said the project was aimed at bringing order to interstate travel and improving the tracking of who enters and exits Lagos. He noted that ensuring the safety and security of passengers is central to the initiative.
“This is about the safety and security of people in the state,” Musa said.
Olamide Afolabi, CEO of Touch and Pay Technology, added that agents would be stationed at parks to manage the digital manifest system, ensuring a seamless experience for passengers without causing delays or queues.
“The information provided will be mapped to the number plate of the driver, and the idea is to improve safety and build trust with the government,” Afolabi said.
Usman Teslim, Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos chapter, expressed support for the initiative, stating that the union had been in discussions with the government and was optimistic about the future of transport in the state.
“The transport unions are part of this development. We have been having meetings with the government, and we believe that, at the end of the day, there will be a good transport system in Lagos,” Teslim said.
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