By Olasunkanmi Shobowale
What comes to your mind whenever you hear the phrase ‘small but mighty’? Don’t look further, they are talking about Lagos. The trailblazer of national development and a model state for the judicious utilization of resources.
With a population exceeding 20 million, there is no doubt the state will experience notorious traffic snarls and pollution levels, looking at the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwó-Olú, no wonder transportation comes first as his project of concern and investment.
First, Lagos state started the Bus Rapid Transportation BRT, which over the years has become the succour that Lagosians rely on for daily affordable and fast commuting. Many Lagosians usually park their vehicles at nearby locations to take BRT to their respective locations, especially those working on the island.
Then the State invested heavily in improving the waterway transportation system and recently the commencement of the Blue and Red Line Rail system, the first by a state in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The priority of private investors is profit-maximizing while the priority of the Lagos State Government is the comfortability and affordability of services that make life meaningful and worthy of living for Lagosians hence the relentless effort of the government to initiate a partnership to consolidate the State’s investment in transportation means so far by the birth of LAGRIDE, an e-hailing taxi scheme.
The success of LAGRIDE over a year ago has convinced the Lagos State Government to further invest a whopping $260 million in a Joint Venture partnership between a state-owned corporation, IBILE Holdings Limited, and CIG Motors Company Limited for the acquisition of 5000 brand new vehicles to the fleet of LAGRIDE.
In a few weeks, the Lagos State Government shall take delivery of 2000 units of the new vehicles in the first phase; the rest are to be delivered in portions.
There is no doubt that traditional combustion engine vehicles contribute heavily to air pollution, leading to severe health implications for Lagos residents. The new LAGRIDE fleet will have 1000 electric vehicles, a testament to the quest of the State to not only improve the efficiency and reliability of transport but also significantly reduce its environmental footprint
While signing the deal, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said “The new Joint Venture Partnership deal will further enhance efficiency and elevate smart mobility in the e-hailing sector. The vehicles will be tailor-made for Lagos terrain to operate on low carbon emissions, improved technological interaction and energy transition”
Governor Sanwó-Olú also said that the initiative was part of his administration’s vision to transform and modernise public transportation, giving the State an integrated urban transit system as a sustainable alternative to outdated vehicles being used for transportation.
The one-year pilot programme of LAGRIDE has helped the government test the feasibility and effectiveness of e-mobility solutions in Lagos. It helped to identify the technical, logistical, and usage pattern challenges which the government has tackled significantly to bring about the large-scale implementation of the initiative with the introduction of Electronic Vehicles.
The Commissioner for Transportation Honourable Oluwaseun Osiyemi in his address speech at the signing ceremony said “The objective of this policy is to create a transportation system that is integrated, accessible, safe, reliable, cost-effective, comfortable, and at the same time ecologically friendly. Also to be multimodal and seamless, to improve network connectivity, and sufficient enough to meet needs”
Imagine being able to enjoy these deliverables at a pocket-friendly rate by just downloading the LAGRIDE app to your mobile phone and hailing a LAGRIDE cab from the comfort of your home, office, or market, why will you still want to board a rickety bus that’ll give you bedbug as a parting gift?
In business, you can’t compete with your competitors by copying them. The only way to win is to set the standard. LAGRIDE offers a standard based on a Fast, Affordable, Safe (F.A.S) strategy in the e-hailing taxi industry to bring about better service to customers by improving punctuality, cleanliness, safety, and overall customer experience.
The quest to reposition and reorganize Lagos State’s public transportation system through e-mobility is not just a technological upgrade; it is a visionary step towards a more sustainable, efficient, and healthier city. By leveraging strategic partnerships, supportive infrastructure, and gradual implementation, Lagos is paving the way for a modern transportation system that will meet the needs of its bustling population while safeguarding the environment for future generations.
Olásúnkànmí Shobowale
ola.shobowale@hotmail.com