HAMZAT PROMISES INTEGRATED TRANSPORT SYSTEM TO TACKLE LAGOS TRAFFIC
By Trek Africa Newspaper
Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has promised to strengthen Lagos’ integrated transportation system to ease traffic congestion and reduce travel time if elected governor.
Hamzat, who spoke on Tuesday during separate interviews with Lagos Television (LTV), Eko FM (107.5 FM) and Lagos Traffic Radio (96.1 FM) in Agidingbi, said his transportation plan would integrate road, rail and waterways to provide commuters with more efficient travel options.
He explained that the state’s transportation blueprint is designed to improve mobility, reduce pressure on roads and connect different modes of transportation, stressing that an efficient transport system is essential to the growth of other sectors, including housing, education, business and youth development.
According to him, “Our transportation system is what I prescribed to link all resources in Lagos. For us, moving our people easily without traffic is important and essential because this is the bedrock of everything. From housing, to education, to the ease of doing business, youth development are all functions of transportation. So, we will provide more BRT buses, decongest our bus stops and ensure that when an accident happens, we respond fast to avoid traffic.”
He further noted that addressing traffic congestion requires more than expanding road infrastructure, stressing the importance of providing commuters with reliable alternatives and improving coordination of transport services across the state.
The Deputy Governor pledged to complete the Blue Line extension to Okokomaiko and link it with the Red Line at the National Theatre, Iganmu, to improve connectivity. He said the connection would enable commuters travelling from areas such as Yaba and Agege to reach Marina more conveniently, while residents along the Okokomaiko corridor, including students of Lagos State University (LASU), would benefit from improved rail access.
On water transportation, Hamzat said the Omi-Eko project would provide seven electric ferries, five of which have been delivered, to expand commuting options for residents.
“Lagos is a water state, and as such, we must utilise the lagoon as a network of water routes so that at least we can move a lot of our people on water as we are moving on roads, and of course now on rail,” he said.
Speaking on the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge, Hamzat expressed confidence that the project could be delivered through partnerships with private-sector investors, noting that the state must be cautious about borrowing to finance major infrastructure projects.
“We must build it through partnerships, and we also need to be careful as a state in terms of borrowing,” he said.
He explained that the bridge’s design and costing had been undertaken with private-sector involvement, while negotiations had been held with prospective concessionaires. He added that successful delivery would require an understanding of responsibilities associated with public-private partnerships, including tolling arrangements that could support investors’ participation.
Hamzat also stressed the need for improved traffic management, particularly during accidents and road repairs, noting that security operatives must respond promptly to incidents to prevent severe congestion. He attributed the challenge partly to Lagos’ high vehicular density and called for better organisation, planning and traffic management.
He said his proposed approach would focus on connecting transport systems, improving commuter access and reducing travel delays, thereby supporting productivity and economic growth across the state.
