By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has pledged to strengthen the state’s integrated transportation system to reduce traffic congestion and travel time if elected governor.
Hamzat made the pledge on Tuesday during separate interviews with Lagos Television (LTV), Eko FM 107.5 and Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1 at Agidingbi, Lagos.
He said his transportation plan would integrate road, rail and waterways to provide commuters with efficient alternatives, ease pressure on roads and improve connectivity across the state.
According to him, an effective transportation system is essential to the development of other sectors, including housing, education, business and youth development.
“Our transportation system is what I prescribed to link all resources in Lagos. For us, moving our people easily without traffic is important and essential because this is the bedrock of everything,” he said.
Hamzat added that his plans included providing more Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses, decongesting bus stops and improving emergency response to road accidents to prevent prolonged traffic disruptions.
He stressed that tackling congestion required more than expanding road infrastructure, noting that commuters needed reliable alternatives and better coordination among different transport services.
On rail transportation, the deputy governor pledged to complete the Blue Line extension to Okokomaiko and connect it with the Red Line at the National Theatre in Iganmu.
He said the proposed connection would improve access to Marina for commuters travelling from areas such as Yaba and Agege, while residents along the Okokomaiko corridor, including students of Lagos State University (LASU), would benefit from improved rail connectivity.
On water transportation, Hamzat said the Omi-Eko project would provide seven electric ferries, with five already delivered, to expand commuting options across Lagos.
“Lagos is a water state, and as such, we must utilise the lagoon as a network of water routes so that at least we can move a lot of our people on water as we are moving on roads, and of course now on rail,” he said.
Speaking on the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge, Hamzat said the project could be delivered through partnerships with private-sector investors, cautioning that the state must be prudent in borrowing to finance major infrastructure projects.
“We must build it through partnerships, and we also need to be careful as a state in terms of borrowing,” he said.
He explained that the bridge’s design and costing had been undertaken with private-sector involvement, while negotiations had been held with prospective concessionaires.
Hamzat noted that successful implementation would require clear agreements on public-private partnership responsibilities, including tolling arrangements that could enable investors to recover their investments.
He also called for improved traffic management, particularly during accidents and road repairs, emphasising the need for security operatives to respond promptly to incidents to prevent severe congestion.
The deputy governor attributed some of Lagos’ traffic challenges to the state’s high volume of vehicles, stressing the importance of better planning, organisation and traffic management.
He said his proposed transportation strategy would prioritise connectivity, commuter access and reduced travel delays to support productivity and economic growth across the state.
