Lagos to replace 70,000 danfo buses

Lagos State Government has indicated its resolve to replace about 70,000 mini-buses (Danfo) currently being used for commercial purpose in the state with high capacity buses.

The State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, gave the hint at the 7th Lagos motor fair, which came to a close on Tuesday.

He spoke through the state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, stressing that the state government was determined to change the face of public transportation to improve the living standard of the people.

The governor, however, added that the high capacity buses to be introduced would be run by private operators as already being done with the Bus Rapid Transit scheme.

He said massive opportunities existed for local and foreign manufacturers of mass transit buses as well as the dealers.

He expressed the readiness of the state government to collaborate with willing investors on the programme and urged them to take up the challenge.

Fashola said, “Our administration is also partnering the organised private sector in providing modern and better means of transportation for Lagosians.

“The Bus Rapid Transit is owned 100 per cent by the private sector. These are modern and cheaper means of ferrying commuters from one place to another. It is safer, cheaper and faster. I implore our people to continue to make good use of them.”

He stressed that the state would always offer good return on investment, especially in the road transport business.

He noted that Lagos, as the most urbanised and commercial nerve of Nigeria, had about 20 per cent of the nation’s automobile.

The governor also explained the activities of the administration in improving the transportation system with the expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

He said, “The Lagos – Badagry road is being expanded to allow more vehicles make use of it without the stress now being experienced by commuters on this road. It is first of its kind in Africa with a provision for BRT lane and the Lagos light rail.

“The second phase of this project has been awarded and the contractor has moved to site. With the completion of this road, the traffic gridlock being experienced by commuters on this road shall become a thing of the past. Our heavy investments in providing necessary infrastructural facilities on the roads, traffic management and provision of safety road signs is to further ensure the growth in our economy to improve on the standard of living of the people and ensure longer life span of not only our vehicles but of also our people. We are a caring government.”

The governor commended the efforts of BKG Exhibition, the organisers of the annual motor fair and attested to its success with the coming of foreign exhibitors.

“The Lagos motor fair has become a yearly event; the past six editions had been a tremendous success,” he said.

The Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions Limited, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, said the firm had the desire to give the automobile industry in Nigeria an international recognition in order to position it for greater global competitiveness.

He said, “We always have it at the back of our minds that hosting world class auto shows in Nigeria is one of the ingredients that would fast track the development of Nigeria’s automotive industry; this informed our recent move to partner reputable global fairs and exhibitions companies, the outcome of one of which is visible in this edition.”

Meanwhile, the exhibition by foreign spare part dealers added glamour to the event as visitors trooped to the special pavilion made for the section.

Agwu explained the rationale for making auto spare parts a major focus this year.

According to him, BKG’s partnership with the SENEXPO International Fairs Inc of Turkey to bring reputable Original Equipment Manufacturers of auto spare parts across the world to participate in the fair is to promote the development of a virile spare parts sub-sector to service the evolving auto manufacturing sector in Nigeria.

“Another key aim of bringing these OEM’s to Lagos, which is the hub of automotive business in West Africa, is to enable Nigerians and neighbouring West Africans to engage in auto spare business work out rewarding and lasting business relationships with the main companies engaged in the manufacture of auto spare parts,” he said.

Agwu urged the government to address the sorry state of infrastructure in the country and empower the middle-class “since they are the biggest boost to the consumption of automotive products in any economy.”