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By Moïse Akaigwe
The It was the excitement at Terminal 1 of the modern Oshodi transport interchange on Monday when luxury, long-distance minibuses and minibuses began day and night passenger and cargo operations to destinations in the is of the country.
This comes about two years after the transportation hub opened for actual transportation activities in May 2019, following the official inauguration by President Muhammadu Buhari a month earlier.
The allocation of the terminal to transport companies follows lengthy discussions between the Lagos State government, its partner on the Oshodi transport interchange, Planet Projects Limited, and the umbrella organization of the bus carriers , Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON).
The negotiations paved the way for a memorandum of understanding, which defined the conditions of use of the new terminal by the members of ALBON.
At Terminal 1, already out of service on Thursday, a Planet Projects official informed The Sun that approving luxury buses to use the terminal as a loading point was part of the Lagos State Government’s plan to put establish a safe and efficient integrated multimodal transport system. .
It has also been learned that loading and boarding buses for interstate journeys, including those to Bolade and even Charity bus stops (both located in the outer parts of Oshodi) “will soon be banned.”
Inside the state-of-the-art terminal, potential travelers in the queues were seen purchasing tickets at the respective counters of their favorite transport companies who were assigned seats in the facility, while those waiting for the boarding announcement went to the passenger waiting area.
Outside the terminal was a line of buses, including those owned by popular long-haul passenger companies like Bonny Way Motors Nig. Ltd, ABC Transport, Izuchukwu Transport Nigeria Limited and Young Shall Grow Motors Ltd.
Buses belonging to ASM Transport & Logistics, Blessed Investment and Eddyson International Transport, among others, were also positioned outside the terminal.
Damian Ezema, director of one of the transport companies, Izuchukwu Transport, who was seen coordinating loading activities, said the operators’ vehicles had been running at the terminal without a hitch since Monday, revealing that most departures in the morning were done by minibus, while the larger buses leave at night.
Speaking to The Sun by phone on Saturday, ALBON Vice President Chief Nonso Ubajaka commended the Lagos State government and its relevant agencies for approving the exchange facility for use by members of his association.
Ubajaka revealed that customers of luxury bus operators are excited about the very conducive and air-conditioned environment of the new terminal, especially the ticketing area and lounge where they have to wait for the announcement of bus departures.
“Some of the passengers tell the staff of the various luxury bus companies that they want the Lagos State government to build similar ultramodern terminals in other parts of the state, such as the Jibowu and Mazamaza axis. Amuwo-Odofin “, said the vice president of ALBON. The president disclosed.
The proceeds of a tripartite agreement involving the Lagos State government, Planet Projects and Ibile Holdings, the Oshodi bus station with three terminals, was commissioned by the president Muhammadu Buhari in April 2019.
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