By Kayode Olopade
To enhance passenger safety, reliability, accountability and efficiency in interstate travel across the state, the Lagos government
has commenced the State's Interstate Park Accreditation and Passenger Manifest Digitization.
The state Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, who announced the initiative during a media briefing on the Lagos State Interstate Park Accreditation and Passenger Manifest Digitalization in Alausa Ikeja, on Friday, said the accreditation and manifest would ensure safety of passengers while creating employment opportunities for residents.
Osiyemi said that the initiative is another bold step made as a responsive government aimed at the continued promotion of safety and security of lives and property in the state.
According to the commissioner, the project is an ambitious programme designed to standardize the interstate parks and digitize the passenger manifest system.
Saying that the initiative is more than just a modernization effort, as well as a commitment to the safety and comfort of every traveller who moves in and out of Lagos by road, Osiyemi added: "The goal of this initiative is straightforward. It is to make interstate travel safer, more efficient, and more reliable. "Currently, our passenger manifest system operates on a paper-based approach, which can lead to inefficiencies and delays in critical situations."
According to the commissioner: "The second part of this project focuses on transforming our manifest system into a digital, centralized platform. Each passenger’s information will now be digitally recorded, ensuring that data is secure, accurate, and instantly accessible to the necessary authorities.
"For the established parks with existing booking systems, we will integrate their systems into our centralized database to ensure continuity and accuracy in data collection.
"In less formal parks, we will provide the necessary devices and agents to digitize the manifest on-site, ensuring that no traveller is left out of this safety enhancement. "This streamlined system will empower first responders with immediate access to essential passenger information, allowing them to act quickly and accurately in emergencies."
He said that the Lagos State Interstate Park Accreditation and Passenger Manifest Digitization project exemplifies administration's commitment to building a transportation system that every resident can rely on.
Listing gains of the initiative, Osiyemi said: "By transitioning to a fully digital platform, we aim to securely capture and store passenger information in real-time, providing immediate access to accurate data in the event of any incidents.
"Alongside this, we are also implementing an accreditation system for all interstate parks, setting a new standard of quality, safety, and service for all operators. "The first component of this project is the accreditation of all interstate parks across Lagos State. Parks that meet our minimum safety and service standards will receive the Ministry of Transportation’s official certification."
These certified parks, according to the commissioner, will display a prominently placed signage, assuring passengers that they are boarding from a park recognized and trusted by Lagos State.
He noted that parks that do not meet the state standards, particularly the unregulated roadside “mushroom” parks, will require improvements.
"This is a collective move towards a safer, more reliable interstate travel experience for every Lagosian," Osiyemi said.
Osiyemi, who noted that the project certainly will benefit the passengers, park operators and the state, added: "For the passengers, they will experience increased safety, reliability, and convenience. "Knowing that their travel information is securely recorded offers reassurance that, should any incidents occur, Lagos State’s emergency services are equipped with the tools and data they need to respond effectively.
"For accredited park operators, they gain a mark of quality that enhances their reputation and attracts more passengers."
With the infrastructure upgrades provided, he added that operators have an opportunity to elevate service quality and play a direct role in creating a safer transportation system.
"As for the state, this initiative marks a vital step in the modernization of our transportation sector. The project not only strengthens public safety but also generates employment opportunities and provides valuable data to guide urban planning and transportation policy.
"By enforcing park standardization and leveraging digital technology, Lagos is leading the way in innovative, forward-thinking governance."
Through this initiative, Lagosians can feel safer, park operators can gain credibility, and Lagos State can continue to set new standards for modern, efficient governance, Osiyemi added.
The technical partner on the project, Olamide Afolabi, said the project would improve the physical infrastructure of parks, including toilets and sitting areas to meet the standard for accreditation.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation, Wale Musa, assured the people of the safety of their data.
State's Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers,Usman Teslim, said that through the new initiative, the state government was moving from analogue to digital system, in collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure the safety of lives of residents and others.
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