OGUN STATE: UK Pledges Support For Ogun’s Bus Mass Transit Scheme

OGUN STATE: UK Pledges Support For Ogun’s Bus Mass Transit Scheme

United Kingdom Foreign Commission Development Office (UK.FCDO) has expressed readiness to offer assistance in attracting investors to Ogun State, to boost its Bus Mass Transit Scheme

The State Government is concluding plan to flagg-off an efficient and sustainable Urban Bus Mass Transit Scheme aimed at fast tracking the socio-economic development of the State.

The United Kingdom (UK) Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Ben Llewellyn-Jones announced the support in Abeokuta, during a meeting with the State government’s delegation comprising Commissioners for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Tunji Odunlami and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Gbolahan Adeniran. 

 Llewellyn-Jones explained that the assistance would be in terms of wooing investors to the State, especially in the areas of acquisition of more buses for the scheme and operation of the ones presently acquired by the State government.

“Having realised the giant leap the State government has made in acquiring a sizeable number of high quality buses for the pilot scheme, we decided to explore areas of core competence and interest, and make representation on behalf of some of our potential investors that are willing to do business in the State. The investment could either be acquisition of more buses to expand the scheme or professional operation of the ones acquired by the State”, he revealed.

Speaking on the efforts of government on modernising and promoting efficiency in the transport sector, Engr. Dairo reiterated that the present administration is poised to invest in both the quality and capacity of the public transport system, just as it sought to make public transport a choice mode for all commuters.

 “The pilot scheme of the Urban Bus Mass Transit will demonstrate to both foreign and local investors, government’s efforts and capacity in providing improved movement of people in the State, through a bus-based public transport system with better capacity and reliability than the present operating system”, Dairo said.

He expressed confidence in the partnership offered by the UK.FCDO, which would facilitate massive investment and bring about efficient and sustainable transport sector in the State.

Earlier, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Adeniran said the adoption of an institutional building model by the present administration has distinguished it from others, having yielded positive results in transport modernisation, infrastructural development, such as massive delivery of road network, accelerated dispensation of justice, among others, maintaining that these efforts had taken the State to international stage.

Barr. Adeniran assured prospective investors of adequate security, stressing that government would not rest on its oars, as it keeps strengthening security apparatus by providing security patrol vehicles and other needed tools to make the State safe for living and a destination of choice for business investors.