Lagos gov okays special security team for BRT, transport facilities

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved a dedicated security team for the monitoring of transport infrastructure and the enforcement of extant rules on the use of the Bus Rapid Transit regulation.

Approval for the dedicated security team followed frequent damage to transport infrastructure and violation of the BRT lanes which more often impeded the operation of the BRT system.

With more transport infrastructure being constructed, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority reasoned that there was the need for a higher measure of security and vigilance especially in the light of last year’s attack on Lagos State government and LAMATA facilities perpetrated by hoodlums who hijacked the EndSARS protest.

LAMATA’s spokesman, Kolawole Ojelabi, said in a statement that during the attack, the newly completed Oyingbo Bus Terminal was vandalized, and 57 new BRT buses ready for deployment for passenger operations were set ablaze.

On the same day, Berger Bus Terminal and 23 new buses parked were also set ablaze.

The approval granted by the governor states that the dedicated team, headed by a Superintendent of Police, would be composed of 70 officers and men of the Nigeria police force charged with the protection of existing LAMATA facilities and others currently under construction.

The dedicated security team will ensure that the lifespan of transport infrastructure would be guaranteed and not be truncated by needless and unforeseen attacks as well as make passengers feel secure at LAMATA facilities while using regulated.