Commercial buses accreditation: Lagos gives Dec 31st deadlineSaturday,

Commercial buses accreditation: Lagos gives Dec 31st deadlineSaturday, 9 November 2013 6:02 a.m.
busLagos  State government yesterday said that from January 1st 2014, it would  commence enforcement on all commercial bus owners, drivers and  conductors who are yet to comply with the re-accreditation exercise in  the state.


Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, handed  down the warning while announcing the hosting of the 13th National  Council on Transportation, which will be the highest advisory body on  all transport related matters across the federation,slated for 11th to  15th of November 2013. The summit’s  theme is: “Transformation of  Transport Infrastructure, Catalyst for Socio-Economic growth.”


Speaking  on the second phase of Lagos Traffic Law, Opeifa, said, focus would be  on improving the availability of, safety, security and the quality of  service delivery of public transportation in the state.
He said:  “This new system includes: the re-introduction of commuter bus routing  scheme, commercial passenger vehicle licensing, corporate outlook for  transport operators -use of uniform and badges and the implementation of  passengers insurance for commercial passenger vehicles in Lagos state”.

According  to him, from January 1st 2014 which is the commencement date, all  commercial bus owners, drivers and conductors are to visit any of the 21  zonal offices of the Vehicles Inspection Services, VIS, nearest to them  for accreditation and documentation free of charge.


The process,  he   explained, involves the physical examination of vehicles and  particulars to ascertain its road worthiness status.

Opeifa,  however, solicited the support and co-operation of all stakeholders to  ensure the success of the programme designed to further restore and  reposition the sector for better productivity, service delivery and  improved quality of life in the state.

Also commenting on the  13th National Council on Transportation, Opeifa said Lagos agreed to  host the event in order to ensure adequate transport system in the  state, identify opportunities within transport sector of the economy and  promote various modes of transportation.

According to him, the NCT  would be in two sessions, comprising of the technical session and the national council meeting.

Opeifa  said the technical session would be led by the Permanent Secretary,  Federal Ministry of Transport, Engr. Nebolisa Emordi which will focus  on  briefs from the states and federal agencies on the state of  implementation of decisions taken at the 12th National Council Meeting  held in Markurdi.
The Council, which comprises of all the  commissioners for Transportion from all the states in Nigeria including  the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, will be chaired by the Minister  for Transportation, Senator Idris Audu Umar and Governor Babatunde  Fashola is expected to be the chief host at the event to be held at the  City Hall and Civic Centre respectively.

“The second  fold of the  National Council on Transportation is the meeting which will be declared  open by Governor Fashola on Thursday, 14th November 2013 at the Civic  Centre in Victoria Island. The Council meeting which will be chaired by  the Minister for Transportation, Senator Idris Audu Umar, will focus on  various issues such as: presentation of the report of the Technical  session that will be delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Federal  Ministry of Transport, Engr. Nebolisa Emordi.

Responding on why  social miscreants, known as ‘Area boys and Agberoes’ are still chasing  commercial buses on the streets of Lagos in spite of the new traffic law  prohibiting them from doing so,   Opeifa, said, many hoodlums have been  arrested as a result; stressing that efforts were still on-going to  ensure full implementation