The Lagos State Government has launched the Interstate Park Accreditation and Passenger Manifest Digitization project, a new initiative designed to upgrade interstate travel within the state by enhancing safety, reliability, and efficiency. The project is expected to transform how passengers move to and from Lagos, bringing security and technological advancements to an area that impact thousands of commuters daily.
During a briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, spoke about the importance of the project. He emphasized that the initiative reaffirms the state government’s commitment to ensuring the safety, comfort, and peace of mind for all road travellers.
The commissioner stated that this program would introduce standardization across the state’s interstate transport facilities, offering both the travellers and the transportation operators a regulated and improved environment.
At the core of this initiative are two primary elements: the Interstate Park Accreditation and the Digital Passenger Manifest System. According to Osiyemi, the Interstate Park Accreditation will require all interstate parks in Lagos to undergo an official accreditation process. Parks that meet the Ministry of Transportation’s strict safety and service criteria will be certified, allowing passengers to easily identify these regulated facilities.
This measure not only establishes clear standards but also addresses the long-standing issue of “mushroom” parks unregulated, informal park setups that operate on roadsides without adherence to safety regulations. For these parks, the government has set clear standards they must meet to continue operating.
Osiyemi explained that parks not able to comply with these requirements will need to either upgrade their services or cease operations, ensuring that only safe and reliable facilities serve the public.
In addition, the Digital Passenger Manifest System is being introduced to replace the outdated paper-based process that currently tracks passenger data. With this new digital platform, passenger information will be captured in real time and stored securely.
The commissioner highlighted the importance of this system in emergency situations, as it will allow first responders immediate access to accurate passenger information, a crucial factor for efficient rescue and support operations.
Moreover, the data will be centralized and accessible to authorized personnel, thus enhancing overall service quality and safety measures for travellers.
The commissioner noted that even well-established parks that already utilize digital systems will be integrated into the new state-wide platform, ensuring that the project’s benefits are shared across the board.
“With this project,” Osiyemi stated, “Lagosians can travel with confidence, while park operators enhance their credibility, and Lagos State sets a new standard for modern, efficient transport systems.” By creating this unified system, the Lagos State government aims to provide a model for interstate travel regulation that could influence other regions and potential nationwide standards.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, also praised the project and reiterated its purpose in ensuring safety for Lagosians. He pointed out that the initiative would also benefit the state’s planning capabilities, as it will now have more accurate data on the movement of people entering and exiting Lagos.
This data, Giwa explained, will be instrumental in helping Lagos plan better for its growing population and infrastructure needs.
Olawale Musa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, underscored the need for improvement and reorganization in the current interstate parks, which he described as outdated and insufficient for a city as dynamic as Lagos.
He reassured Lagosians of the state’s respect for data privacy, explaining that any information shared with the state government will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed publicly. “We are mindful of data protection laws,” Musa added, emphasizing that the digitized system has been designed with secure data handling as a priority.
The new project has also received strong support from stakeholders within the transportation sector. Usman Teslim, the State Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), expressed his support for the initiative, describing it as a necessary upgrade for Lagos’ transport system. Teslim praised the government’s commitment to providing regulated transport options that prioritize both passenger safety and convenience.
