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Extends closure of CMD road by 8 days
By Moses Akaigwe
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, last week deployed a team to selected parks and garages to assess the level of compliance with the government’s directive to commercial vehicle operators to reduce fares
The visits followed a series of complaints received by the ministry that some public transport operators did not totally comply with the pronouncement of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu that all state-owned buses and privately-owned ‘yellow buses’ to reduce fares by 50 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
The governor’s initiative was aimed at mitigating the impact of fuel subsidy removal on commuters,
Briefing members of the transport unions at Agege, Iyana Ipaja and Ikeja parks and garages, the Permanent Secretary who was represented by a top official of the ministry, noted that between 60 and 80 percent compliance had already been achieved.
He assured that the ministry would continue its sensitization efforts to ensure complete adherence to the directive.
Engr. Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, who represented the Permanent Secretary with some Directors of the Ministry of Transportation, reiterated the need for yellow buses operators to comply with the announcement by the Chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages, reducing the union park tickets for drivers from N800 to N600, urging them to reflect the reduction in their fare charges.
He further emphasised the need for transport unions to monitor drivers under their units and branches to ensure they fully adhere to the directive. He also urged them to monitor commuter buses within their zones, not to disrupt traffic flow.
Responding on behalf of the unions present at the parks, Akeem Agberoungbe, who is the Organising Secretary of the transport unions at Ikeja park confirmed that their union members have complied with the directive of the reduction to ease the effect of the petrol subsidy removal.
Similarly, Musiliu Disu, a transport union leader at Iyana Ipaja also explained that the level of compliance at their park is impressive.
The unions expressed their commitment to continue monitoring their members for improved compliance.
Passengers interviewed while confirming the reduction in the public transport fares, expressed their appreciation to Gov.Sanwo-Olu for the palliative on transportation.
…LASG extends temporary closure of entrance to CMD Road by 8 days
The temporary closure of the entrance into CMD Road, and the Access Road to Isheri-Olowora on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for the ongoing construction project by the Federal Government, has been extended by eight days.
The Lagos State Government which made the announcement yesterday, explained that this was as a result of the extension of the construction at the CBD entrance from August 12 to 13, 2023 – an additional eight days.
According to the notification, the extension of the temporary closure became necessary to allow the casting of the retaining wall, facilitate the run-off discharge point, remove the old ring culvert, install precast culvert, and resurface the section worked upon with asphalt.
The Permanent Secretary in the Lagos Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulahfiz Toriola, who signed the statement, assured that the traffic management plan already in use will continue with the alternative routes;
He said that motorists on Ojota Interchange will connect CMD Road through the access road after the FMW weighbridge to continue their journeys.
On the other hand, motorists on Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo will connect CMD road by Otedola Estate
Also, motorists that are Isheri-Olowora-bound, intending to exit the expressway via the access before the pedestrian bridge at Berger bus stop, will make use of the next exit by New Garage to connect Isheri-Olowora.
All motorists are urged to cooperate with the traffic management personnel deployed to guide them through their desired destinations.
