Matilda Omonaiye/
Africa’s foremost transportation icon, Oshodi Transport Interchange has recorded 1.6 million passengers in its first 250 days.
The Managing Director of Planet Projects, Mr.Biodun Otunola, gave the update on the world-class terminal delivered by the firm while taking media executives on a tour of the facility today.
He said the passenger traffic was recorded in Terminal 3, currently in full operations adding that terminals 1 and 2 were set to take off in the first quarter of the year.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso commended the effort.
He said, “This is beautiful; to put it in simple language. It’s worthy of the effort. It’s a testimony to the undying spirit of the Nigerian enterprise.
He said the position of the Sanwo-Olu administration is that all on-going projects must be completed to provide service to the people.
In a presentation to media executives, Otunola noted that the project’s viability would be determined by multiple streams of income including ticketing, advertisement and rentals from retail sales outlets.
He said the full activation of the project would enhance its viability.
Thanking the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu for his tremendous support since the inception of his administration, Otunola said there had been an increase in the number of buses from 35 to 100 and the routes from three to four due to the support of the administration.
He said the increase in the buses enabled more riders to commute and helped to achieve the 1.6million passenger traffic in 250 days.
The facility tour, which covered first to the third terminal, included the reception, ticketing booths, and waiting areas containing 500 steel chairs as well as the loading bays where passengers embark on journeys.
While terminal 1 is designed for inter-city trips to other state capitals, terminal 2 will accommodate the Bus Rapid Transport service that will service Abule-Egba route.
Otunola urged governments across the federation to invest in transport interchanges which the majority of Nigerians use just as they invest in airports to serve the elite.
