The two main transport unions in Lagos State, the NURTW and the RTEAN agree to embrace Bus Reform Initiative (BRI).

The move facilitated by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation will be piloted on the Lekki – Epe Expressway corridor.

Operators of high-capacity buses will be allowed to run their buses, while minibuses will be deployed to the inner routes.

Adoption of the informal operators into the BRI is expected to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion along the Lekki-Epe corridor.

The two main transport unions in Lagos, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) on Thursday agreed to embrace the Lagos State Government Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) and formalized their operations.

The move, facilitated by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, will be piloted on the Lekki – Epe Expressway corridor.

Operators of high-capacity buses will be allowed to run their buses and subjected to the regulation of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), while minibuses will be deployed to the inner routes.

At a stakeholder meeting yesterday, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa stated that “the adoption of the informal operators into the BRI is expected to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and provide a more reliable commuting experience for passengers along the Lekki-Epe corridor.”

Hon. Giwa further stated that “the successful implementation of the program would pave the way for broader adoption and future developments, setting new standards for efficiency and sustainability in urban transport throughout the metropolitan area.”

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa highlighted the importance of collaboration with the NURTW and RTEAN in implementing these reforms and encouraged them to take ownership of the initiative.

The leadership of the NURTW and RTEAN Lagos chapters, present at the meeting, welcomed the initiative and pledged their support to the government. They expressed their willingness to optimize the inner route network.