Time to refocus mass transit

The absence of a reliable mass transit is an obvious inhibition to both economic growth and social stability and therefore an obstacle to the attainment of genuine national development. Various critical sectors of the Nigerian economy have remained weak because the transportation system has failed to guarantee an effective mass transit arrangement for the citizens. […]

The absence of a reliable mass transit is an obvious inhibition to both economic growth and social stability and therefore an obstacle to the attainment of genuine national development. Various critical sectors of the Nigerian economy have remained weak because the transportation system has failed to guarantee an effective mass transit arrangement for the citizens.

Even with the existence of the Federal Ministry of Transportation and  agencies responsible for the provision and management of particularly road transport services in almost all the states, an effective movement of persons and goods has remained largely a mirage. The failure of the government at federal and state levels to run efficient mass transit programmes is the reason for the noticeable chaos that has continued to characterize vehicular movements in the country.

Defined as “transportation of people efficiently, safely and affordably from one location to another”, mass transit or public transportation system was formally introduced in Britain in the 17th Century as one of the effective measures against the negative effects of population explosion that followed the country’s industrial revolution. Since then, mass transit has become a popular system in some major cities of the world like London, Paris and several others.

Even in Nigeria, though it has not yet got the amount of attention and support it needs to grow, mass transit remains an option that has been adopted by government at especially sub-national level. The Lagos State Government (LGSG) and Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have seemed to have set an example of a reasonable commitment to the implementation of mass transit programmes.

The LGSG’s Bus Rapid Transit programme and FCTA’s version of it are a relatively success story about transportation policies that have worked. Some other state governments, with varying degrees of success, have also put in place systems of mass transportation meant to ease people’s movements.

However, despite its immense benefits to the populace, the mass transit scheme is usually subjected to neglect, which is the reason for its collapse in many states. Many state governments have not shown the kind of commitment that is required for the sustenance of their respective public transportation initiatives.

This disposition stems from lack of proper appreciation of the significant economic and social values of the programmes. The over-prioritization of the distribution of motorcycles to mostly political supporters over the sustenance of mass transit system by some state governors and legislators is a clear manifestation of low understanding of the critical needs of the people.

Daily Trust is, of course, not unaware or unmindful of the challenges that make the operation of mass transit system extremely challenging. Expensiveness of the buses, high cost of maintenance, poor conditions of roads and insecurity are some of the problem that hinder the provision of efficient mass transit services.

Yet, we firmly believe that the advantages of the system far outweigh the disadvantages and, therefore, strongly call for the expansion of mass transit services in the states where they are in existence so that many more people can benefit from them. The restriction of such services to just state capitals and some major cities limits their revenue generation and job creation potentials.

We also urge members of the National and State Assemblies as well as political appointees at all levels to begin to consider provision of buses for mass transit as a much better option than the distribution of motorcycles to individuals. Their constituents will be better served if, as part of their poverty alleviation programmes, they procure and allocate buses for mass transit.

Public-Private Partnership ((PPP) is also a strategy that can be used to strengthen and expand the mass transit system. The government should, in this regard, consider it necessary to engage private investors for the purpose of fashioning out a policy of mass transportation that can serve the interests of all stakeholders and target beneficiaries.

This will surely help to effectively refocus mass transit system in a way that will make it vastly accessible to Nigerians. The enhancement of mass transit will guarantee reduction of not only transport fares, but also pollution, chaos, accidents and criminality.

Federal and state governments should urgently initiate a process of overhaul of the system of public transportation with a view to making it comprehensive and result-yielding. Provision of reliable and affordable means of mass transportation for Nigerians is a basic responsibility that must be diligently discharged.