Ayodele Olalere
Lagos State government has commenced accreditation of interstate motor parks as well as digitalisation of manifest for passengers.
The initiative is a Public Private Partnership, PPP, aimed at ensuring safety of interstate passengers.
Unlike the present format where interstate passengers record their data on a paper provided by the transport owners, the new initiative will allow passengers details to be uploaded on a digital platform at every accredited motor park by an agent which can then be accessed by the transport unions and forwarded to the state’s government central database.
While introducing the initiative at a briefing on Friday, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyem, said the initiative will enhance safety, reliability, and efficiency in interstate travel across Lagos.
He noted that the Lagos State Interstate Park Accreditation and Passenger Manifest Digitization project is an ambitious program designed to standardize interstate parks and digitize the passenger manifest system.
He said the paper-based approach which the transport owners operate is inefficient and causes delays in critical situations, adding that by transitioning to a fully digital platform, passengers information can be securely captured in real-time while data can be retrieved in the event of any incidents.
On accreditation of motor parks, Osiyemi further said that all interstate parks across the state that meet minimum safety and service standards will receive the Ministry of Transportation’s official certification.
At every approved park, he said signages showing the park is accredited will be displayed prominently to assure passengers that they are boarding from a park recognized and trusted by Lagos State government.
However, he said for unregulated parks that do not meet the standards but are frequently used by the people, such parks will be required to upgrade to the standard required by the government.
Osiyemi mentioned some of the criterias to be met before accrediting a park to include a functional toilet, exit and entry point Incase or fire incident, light, sitting area among. He also said sales of alcohol will not be allowed at such parks.
He confirmed that the state government presently has recognized 30 interstate parks in his database while there are over 100 unregulated ones across the state.
The Commissioner urged Lagosians to always patronise parks approved by the government for their safety.
The State’s Secretary, National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Usman Teslim commended the state government for the initiative adding that the union is now moving ‘from analogue to digital.’
” We are part of this initiative and Lagosians will begin to see a new system,” he said.