In its drive for an efficient transportation system that befits its megacity status, the Lagos State government on Tuesday said the proposed bus reform initiative aimed at giving the people an integrated public transportation system would commence this year with a sinking fund of N30 billion.

This was disclosed by the Acting Commissioner for Transportation/Special Adviser, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi at the ongoing Y2017 Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating the second year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode Administration and Lagos@50 anniversary.

He said the new initiative is a programme that entails a three-year plan aimed at introducing over 5,000 air-conditioned buses to replace the yellow commercial buses, popularly called Danfo, which according to him, do not befit the State’s mega city status.

According to him, “It is important to state that this is not a ban rather it is a routine exercise that will see ubiquitous commercial vehicles being diverted into the inner roads and hinterlands. For us, this is a redistribution to service the megacity”.

“The scheme is to be supported by a franchise system involving stakeholders who will participate by way of taking up a franchise in multiple of 50, 100 and 200 buses,” he said.

On the planned development of Bus Terminals across the State, the Special Adviser said the government has commenced the construction of Ikeja, Yaba, Oyingbo and the LASU-Iba terminals.

He also informed that the second BRT corridor, extending from Oshodi to Abule Egba, has been identified and listed as one of the projects to be executed by LAMATA, adding that the contract has already been awarded and construction will soon commence.

On the new official number plate, Prince Elegusi disclosed that under the scheme all Government vehicles will have both its security blue number plates and the green official number plates clearly identified on the vehicle particulars thereby curbing unlawful use of official plate numbers by people who are neither Government officials nor authorized, but openly use them to beat law enforcement agencies from stopping or checking them.

He averred that the new number plate will no longer be transferable from vehicle to vehicle, adding that the government has also used the opportunity of the new official number plate to give the 37 Local Council Development Areas their own unique number codes.