Operations ‘will commence’ at Oshodi interchange from May 2

The new Oshodi transport interchange in Lagos state is set to begin operations from May 2, according to Biodun Otunola, chief executive officer of Planet Project Limited, the company executing the project.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, Otuola said the multi-level bus terminals are fitted with world-class facilities to make travelling pleasurable.

President Muhammadu Buhari will inaugurate the $70 million project during his one-day working visit to the state on Wednesday.

Otunola said when the transportation challenge is solved, it will be easier to address other issues affecting the state.

“Oshodi transport interchange is to address the traffic, environmental safety and transportation problems around Oshodi and Lagos at large,” he said.

“As you all know, a lot of us travelling from one part of Lagos to the other have to use this particular spot where we are, which is Oshodi. Oshodi is perhaps the busiest transport interchange in Africa. Based on the study we carried out at the initial stage, we discovered that over 76% of the open space in Oshodi is occupied by transport activities.

“As a result of that, we know that the problem here is not just environmental. The problem is transport. If we can solve the transport problem, we can deal with other issues. And because we don’t have enough land around here, hence the concept of having multi-level bus terminal in Oshodi. So, we have to provide a terminal that can handle at least one million people every day. Not in the immediate, but we believe that when this terminal opens, we should be able to handle 300,000.

“Here, we have three terminals. Terminal one is for inter-city transportation. So, if you are travelling to any part of Nigeria, including West Africa, you will be able to get the bus here and the terminal will run for 24 hours. The whole terminal has been designed to have all world-class facilities.

“Terminal two is to serve Lagos west and all the people going towards FESTAC, Mile 2, Abule Egba, Oshodi, Isolo and Ayobo. Terminal three will also serve people going to Lagos east and Lagos Island, Ojota, Ikorodu, Marina, Obalende, including Berger.

“Bus operation will start from terminal three on May 2.”