Lagos Bus Services plans to increase female drivers

Agency Reporter

THE Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL) says 20 of its 400 drivers are females, and its target is to make women account for 10 per cent of its drivers in future.

LBSL Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Mr. Idowu Oguntona spoke yesterday in Lagos in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

LBSL runs high-capacity Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses that ply routes in the state.

“Currently, we have 20 female captains in our employ; our target is to have about 10 per cent of our drivers as females,” Oguntona said.

He said that in terms of training, the company had a very robust training plan for its drivers before they joined the service.

“This is about six weeks training in the classroom and outside the classroom within our training school.

“Beyond that, we retrain regularly; we have a quarterly training for our drivers, ’’ Oguntona said.

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He said the firm has about 400 drivers in its employ driving about 215 Marcopolo high-capacity buses.

The LBSL boss hoped that services between Iyana-Ipaja and Oshodi would begin soon.

“I am sure that service is going to commence very soon. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu did speak about that as well. I believe the infrastructure, the BRT lane, is nearing completion now.

“Once that is done, I am sure the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) will license an operator to provide service on the corridor.

“So, the teeming commuters on that axis should be patient, the service will come there very soon. I am sure LAMATA is working to ensure that,’’ he said.

Oguntona said that the firm had plans to reduce the waiting time of commuters on its routes.

He said that the firm was committed to delivering smart and sustainable transport services and to constantly improve.

He said the company would provide a reliable, safe and comfortable transport system for commuters.

NAN reports that the firm, which became operational on May 1, 2019, has moved about 9 million commuters across the state to destinations.