The Managing Director of Planet Projects- Mr Biodun Otunola has revealed that full operations are expected to begin at the Terminals 1 and 2 of the Oshodi Transport Interchange in the first quarter of the year ending March.
Planet Projects is the contractor handling the project on behalf of the Lagos State Government
Already, Otunola said the Terminal 3 of the interchange inaugurated in April last year by the President Muhammadu Buhari, had recorded 1.6 million passengers in its first 250 days of operation.
The Planet Projects executive spoke in Lagos while taking some media executives on a tour of the facility.
A statement by the firm quoted Otunola as saying the project’s viability would be determined by multiple streams of income including ticketing, advertisement and rentals from retail sales outlets.
He said the full activation of the project would enhance its viability.
He was reported as saying that “the (1.6 million) passenger traffic was recorded in Terminal 3, currently in full operations, adding that terminals 1 and 2 are set to take off in the first quarter of the year.”
He thanked the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his great support since the inception of his administration.
The interchange is said to have been built to accommodate 820 mass transit buses.
The statement reported Otunola as saying that “there had been an increase in the number of buses from 35 to 100 and the routes from three to four due to the support of the administration.”
He said the increase in the buses had enabled more riders to commute and helped to achieve the 1.6 million passenger traffic in 250 days.
“The facility tour, which covered the first to the third terminal, included the reception, ticketing booths, waiting areas containing 500 steel chairs and the loading bays where passengers could embark on journeys.
“While terminal 1 is designed for inter-city trips to other state capitals, terminal 2 will accommodate the Bus Rapid Transport service that will service Abule-Egba route,” the statement added.
Otunola reportedly urged governments across the federation to invest in transport interchanges used by the majority of Nigerians just as they invested in airports to serve the elite.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, was said to have described the project as beautiful, adding that although he saw the project when the foundation was laid, the outcome was commendable.
He said the position of the Sanwo-Olu administration was that all ongoing projects must be completed to provide service to the people.
