Sanwo-Olu declares free 100,000 cards as Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT begins operation

By JOSHUA ODEYEMI

agos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, promised free 100,000 cards for Lagos residents to drive the e-ticketing platform on the newly commissioned Oshodi-Abule-Egba BRT corridor.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT system infrastructure and the deployment of 550 high and medium capacity buses, Sanwo-Olu said the state government was poised to improve the travel experience of residents on the corridor.

The Oshodi-Abule Egba corridor is an extract of the Maryland/Oshodi-Otta BRT corridor identified in the Strategic Transport Master Plan and bus route network study for Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu, who flagged off the new BRT operation and launched the extended e-ticketing system, disclosed that the new route would service 60,000 to 80,000 Lagos residents daily.

He decried the difficulty people faced commuting on Abule-Egba – Oshodi axis, saying many residents spent close to two hours on the road.

According to him, with the new BRT, the travel time would be reduced to less than 30 minutes.

He assured that more buses would be deployed on the route.

Upgraded e-ticketing platform for commuters

He said: “In our quest to integrate all transport modes, we are also launching an upgraded e-ticketing platform that would at once drive automation of our transport fare payment system and smart mobility through a cashless single travel card system.

“With the e-ticketing system, we envisage the use of a single card on buses and ferries and later upscale to the railways system when passenger operations commence in 2022.

“The system promotes a cashless ecosystem, aids personal budgeting and planning and commuters can easily top up.

“The challenge of ‘no change’ that is very prevalent in our unregulated transport system will be a thing of the past.

“And using the system is fast, encrypted and secured.”

The governor said the completion of the project, which was started by the past administration, “is one of the dividends of this administration’s investment in the transport sector for efficient traffic management and transportation which we believe is crucial to facilitating the emergence of a smart and 21st century economy.”

He commended the federal government for facilitating the release of the 550 high and medium capacity buses which had been in bonded warehouse for over a year.

He urged the people of the state to take the project as theirs and protect it.

“If you see something inimical to the infrastructure or operations of the bus system, please say something,” he said.

Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederick Oladehinde, said the intention of the state government was to link the BRT to Ota in Ogun State to ease commuting between the two states. (Daily Trust)