| Ecobank’s N1b
to keep Lagos mobile through BRT
By SEUN ADESIDA
Saturday, March
22, 2008
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Lagos State
Governor, Raji Fashola
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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The tripartite arrangement to manage the BRT system signifies
taking public private sector partnership to a higher level.
It is symbolic as Ecobank Nigeria Plc Country Head of SME,
Mr. Peary Idornigie, recently pointed out that the bank is
committed to making sure that the BRT scheme works.
He said it is based on this reason that the bank extended
its project financing scheme to purchase of the Blue BRT buses.
According to Idornigie, the challenge of transportation has
been the bane of living in Lagos, and any attempt at overcoming
it should be supported by all.
He stated that the bank handed over a 100 units of the buses
to the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who is part
of the tripartite arrangement to manage the BRT system, and
the arrangement signifies taking public/private sector partnership
to a higher level, the first of its kind in Nigeria.
100 buses for Lagos
The 100 units of blue mega buses financed by Ecobank at a
total cost in excess of N1billion naira as part of the BRT
scheme are expected to ease transportation problem in the
city. Ecobank believes it can support Governor Babatunde Fashola’s
government initiative at providing convenient transportation
system for a larger mass of the people through financing schemes
like this.
The bank believes that providing easy and fast transportation
for the Lagos populace will go a long way in ameliorating
the transport stress associated with life in Lagos, as the
BRT scheme is fashioned to allow individuals reach their work
place and back to their homes within a short space of time.
Governor Fashola flagged off the commencement of the BRT operations
on March 17. The BRT buses commence operation on Mile 12,
in the Kosofe Local Government Area of the state and the CMS
route. It take off from Mile 12 and drops its passengers at
the CMS bus terminal. The buses would also have a stop over
at Moshalashi bus terminal, in the Jibowu area of the state.
The buses, according to LAMATA would operate between 6 am
and 10 pm.
A good alternative
The bank had earlier handed over 100 units of eighteen sitter
buses to members of the same NURTW at the commencement of
its financing of bus acquisition for the union members. The
buses were the first batch of 200 units whose importation
was financed by the bank.
Speaking at the official launch of the buses at the BRT Bus
Depot, Ketu, Ecobank said the project is another step towards
achieving an integrated transportation system that promotes
the use of land, water and rail.
The buses, Fashola added, will not only alleviate the sufferings
of the commuting public and improve the people’s lifestyle,
it would also offer Lagosians the benefits of operating a
regulated bus transport system.
“In the last nine months, we have outlined a clear agenda
for giving the people of the state a new lease of life. To
demonstrate our commitment, we have developed a detailed work
plan for the phased rehabilitation and reconstruction of at
least 100 strategic roads across the state over the next four
years,” he said.
To do more
The road construction and rehabilitation, Governor Fashola
added, will complement the vision of a bus transport system
that meets the yearnings of the people.
While calling on the private sector to invest in public transportation
given its huge market potentials, he expressed happiness at
the investment which the Cooperative Union of the National
Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has made in the purchase
of 100 buses to run the BRT system.
He informed that in order to cater for the interest of people
who are physically challenged, two dedicated seats would be
provided on each of the buses pending when the specialized
buses ordered would arrive.
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