Transformation of the Informal Sector
The performance of the Bus services has been influenced by the inability of the government authority to effectively franchise all the Bus Routes in Lagos. It is obvious that each bus routes has a peculiar operational characteristics considering the social, economic and environmental variables that will guide their operations. As a result, the continuous franchising of all the Bus Routes in Lagos is expedient. To expedite the process of Bus franchising and effective route coordination, LAMATA has produced Lagos State Strategic Transport Master Plan (LSSTMP) and Bus Route Network (BRN) document to guide in the phased franchising of all the bus routes. The LSSTMP identified fourteen BRT routes while the Bus Route Network Study identified 485 individual bus routes, consisting of mass transit, standard and feeders’ routes. The process geared towards the franchising of these routes is ongoing.
The concept adopted for the franchise system currently running in Lagos under LAMATA regulated bus scheme is the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. In this model, the service routes are franchised to a Private Operator whereby Government provides the infrastructure i.e. bus depot/garage, terminals, shelters and TSM measures, construction and rehabilitation of roads. The private sector procures the buses, is responsible for operation and maintenance of the buses, recruitment of personnel and revenue collection among others. The contract option that is currently being used for the current contract i.e. Ikorodu – TBS and the bus franchise scheme on Maryland – IyanaIpaja – Ikotun – Igando bus services, is the net cost management contract. The Contract option allows LAMATA to specify the routes, design service specifications, set standard of operations and fares whilst the operator recruit, train crew and manage operations. The operator also enters into a franchise agreement with the State Government to maintain the buses, adhere to the set standards and paid the agreed franchise fees to the government. LAMATA’s adoption of the net cost management contract was guided by the objective of the Lagos State Government, level of private sector confidence in LAMATA schemes that are publicly driven, and government investment policy and programs etc.
As part of the activities towards the transformation of the informal sector in Lagos Metropolitan Area, LAMATA has commenced with the franchising of bus routes for the BRT and Bus Franchise Scheme, amongst them is the BRT scheme along Ikorodu – TBS and the Bus Franchise Scheme along Ikotun/Igando-IyanaIpaja –Maryland Corridor. BRT System
The introduction of the BRT system to the Lagos Metropolitan roads owes its present state to decades of concerted efforts and initiatives in Bus planning and restructuring, adaptation and Government intervention. The BRT Scheme demonstrated a unique public transport progression which started from bus operations of unfettered market to one with planned approach with restricted players and the transition to government contracting model.
The need for a bus reform in Lagos became obvious in the face of alarming rate of disorganized services and lack of structure in the Public Transport sector thus creating need for total restructuring of the sector. Consequently, the 1st Phase of Lagos BRT Scheme was launched on March 17, 2008, on Ikorodu Road from Mile 12 – TBS. The operations was franchised to the 1st BRT Cooperatives, an arm of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos Chapter. The system commenced operations with 220 buses that runs from 6.00 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and transported more than 200,000 passengers daily. The system in the first 4 years of operation had moved more than 220 million passengers.
The Scheme gained acceptance from all commuting public and Lagosians. The system paid the initial loan for the first 100 buses within 18 months against the 36 month’s period that was agreed with the funding bank. Over 2000 direct and indirect jobs were also created. However, after successful bus loan repayment and operations success, the operation began to dwindle as a result of operations and management challenges. After a prolonged state of the Union inability to meet up with the set operations standard, the franchise was terminated in September 2015. Owing to the successful deployment of the 1st Phase from Mile 12 – TBS, an extension to Ikorodu Roundabout from Mile 12 was approved and completed. The BRT lane was hence extended to Ikorodu roundabout from Mile 12 and a new operator, Primero Transport Services Limited (PTSL), a private sector operator was brought on board in November 2015 to anchor the BRT operations from Ikorodu roundabout to TBS. PTSL has injected 434 buses to service the operations from Ikorodu to TBS and has conveyed over 33 million passengers from November 2015 to date.
From inception till date, the BRT scheme has conveyed over 380 million passengers, reduced the waiting time of passengers to about 10 minutes and has consequently reduced the volume of emission on the BRT corridor.
The system is however being gradually upgraded to the BRT Classic System with the introduction of Electronic Ticketing and Intelligent Transport System. The BRT currently has 45 bus shelters, 5 terminals and 2 bus depots which house a maintenance bay, a fuel dump, an automatic washing bay, administrative offices and other appurtenances for the smooth operation of the system. The operation is guided by a set of regulations approved by the Lagos State House of Assembly and signed into law in 2007. The regulations restrict all other road users from using the BRT lane.
Finally, the BRT scheme has created the opportunities for bus reform and regulations of the scheme.
