PRESS RELEASE

BRT reduces emission in Lagos

The introduction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on the Mile 12 to CMS corridor has engendered a cleaner environment with a huge reduction of about 13 per cent in carbon dioxide and 20 per cent in green house gas effect (GHG). The new statistics were released in Seoul, South Korea where Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Director of Corporate and Investment Planning, Mr. Olutayo Orekoya, in a paper at the United Nations Forum on Climate Change Mitigation, Fuel Efficiency and Sustainable Urban Transport spoke about the Lagos State Government’s effort to institutionalize a friendly environment. The advantages of these, he said has translated to cleaner environment especially for those using and living along the corridor, noting that with the planned opening up of more BRT corridor, the environment in Lagos will even become friendlier.

Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Director of Corporate and Investment Planning, Mr. Olutayo Orekoya (middle) presenting a paper on “The Bus Rapid Transit System of Lagos” at the United Nations Forum on Climate Change Mitigation, Fuel Efficiency and Sustainable Urban Transport in Seoul, South Korea. He is flanked by Mr. Lloyd Wright of United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) and Mr. Mohammed Fathy Farag Ali of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA).

Giving reasons why there has been huge reduction in carbon dioxide emission along the BRT corridor, Mr. Orekoya informed the Forum that the introduction of the high capacity buses, which are considered affordable, reliable, efficient and safe, had encouraged car owners to drop their cars and travel by BRT to work, business and social engagements.

He disclosed that the success of the BRT system had been largely influenced by public acceptance of the scheme through education, interaction and quality service experience, availability of funds required for infrastructure and rolling stock, strong political and governmental support, coupled with leadership professionalism within LAMATA.

Further he disclosed that the system had its second year of recorded more than 113 million passenger movement, generated more than 2000 direct and indirect employment, reduce travel time by 30 per cent and built capacity in the transport sector.

While sharing LAMATA’s experience in the project, Mr. Orekoya stated that LAMATA has gained useful insight in adequate preparation and planning, which are very essential in any successful transport initiative.

He also told the forum that the organisation has also come to realise that investing in high capacity buses was highly beneficial and emphasized the need to involve private investors in the reorganization of the informal sector, for effective public private partnership, as it was the case in the transport sector in Lagos.  

Kolawole Ojelabi
External Relations Specialist,
Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA)