The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA)

  • Sweepers cry to LAMATA over five months of unpaid salaries

    Sweepers cry to LAMATA over five months of unpaid salaries

    Sweepers employed by Dafunol International Limited, a contractor engaged by  the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), on Monday staged a peaceful protest over the non-payment of their five months’ salaries.

    The sweepers  who were in their sweeping kits and holding brooms spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in front of Motorways Premises near 7-Up, Ikeja.

    They also carried placards with inscriptions appealing to the management of  LAMATA to pay them their salaries.

    They said that they were employed by the contractor who is into LAMATA Shelter Maintenance to be sweeping LAMATA-constructed bus shelters along Mile 12-Ketu –Ikorodu Road –Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) axis.

    They said that they had not been paid since March, 2017.

    Some of the inscriptions read: “LAMATA , pay us our salaries ever since the month of February,’’ “LAMATA, why are you denying us our money, you are punishing us.’’

    Mrs Musiliu  Akindele (70) one of the  sweepers told NAN that their employer was initially paying each sweeper N10,000 per month  before it was increased to N15,0000.

    “We were only paid for January and February, 2017.  Our employer owes each of us five months’ salary arrears.

    “Most of our children had been sent out of their schools over unpaid fees,’’ she said.

    Akindele said that before now, their employer used to supply them brooms to work with.

    But now, we are responsible for them. With the non-payment of our salaries; we cannot afford them and this is affecting our service, she said.

    “Each broom costs N200 and now that the salary is not paid, we have no means to buy them to work, ’’ she said.

    Another sweeper, Mrs Morufat Egunjobi, who covers the

    LAMATA bus-stop  shelters around Ketu, a Lagos suburb  told NAN that they usually work between  6a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Sundays.

    “We do not have duty off and no motivations from our employer. Yet, our employer owes us five months of unpaid salary arrears.

    “Some of us who could not cope with the harsh situation had stopped working, the rest of us are doing it on empty promises that we will be paid one day.

    “We are indebted to food sellers and they had refused to sell to us on credit anymore,’’ Egunjobi said.

    Also, Mrs Mero Raifu, another sweeper said that she had cultivated the habit of trekking from Ijora-Badia to Costain where she was assigned LAMATA bus-stop shelters to be sweeping.

    “I have been ejected from my rented apartment by my landlord because of my inability to pay my monthly rent.

    “I now sleep inside a mosque.’’

    Mrs Mojisola Adejuwon said that the sweepers had two meetings with their supervisors early in the year where they highlighted their plights and there was an assurance from the supervisors that they would pay them.

    “We have to resort to this peaceful protest today because our supervisors seemed to have reneged on their promises.’’

    Mr Abiodun Omaike  said that he had been taking care of his family from  borrowing from his neighbours.

    “I live around Moshalashi-Idioro on Lagos Mainland while I am assigned to be sweeping four bus-stop shelters around Fadeyi and Onipanu every day.

    “Instead of sweeping one bus-stop shelter, each sweeper is assigned to sweep between three and four on daily basis and we do not complain.

    “Despite this multi-tasking, we are still being owed salaries by our employer.

    “We are pleading with our employer: LAMATA and Dafunol International Limited, its contractor to pay us our standing salaries.

    “Through that, we will have money to take care of ourselves and be able to work efficiently,’’ Omaike said.

    The NAN contacted Mr Kola Ojelabi, Head of Media and Communication, LAMATA, who said that the state government was processing the funds for the payment of the sweepers.

  • LAMATA transports over 60m passengers from 2015 to date, says CEO

    LAMATA transports over 60m passengers from 2015 to date, says CEO

    The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) says it transported more than 60 million intra-city passengers from 2015 and 2017.

    Mr Abiodun Dabiri, the Managing Director of LAMATA, said on Monday that the agency’s fleet of BRT buses facilitated the intra-city movement during the period.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that BRT buses use exclusively interference-free segregated lanes to guarantee fast and reliable travel with high-quality bus shelters.

    The agency coordinates transport policies in the state and also oversees road and traffic management as well as the Lagos Rail Mass Transit and the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit System.

    Former Gov. Bola Tinubu had on Jan. 13, 2002, signed the bill into law and modified by the LAMATA Act of 2007.

    Africa’s first bus rapid transit scheme began operations on.March 17, 2008 under the administration of ex-Gov. Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

    Apart from transporting people from Ikorodu through Mile 12 to Lagos Island to escape gridlock, Dabiri said the BRT system has also generated over 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs during the period under review.

    “As part of innovations to make public transport attractive to the upper echelon of the society,  they could drop their vehicles, use public transport ( air conditioned buses) and also reduce both congestion and emissions on the roads,” the LAMATA boss said in a statement signed by Mr Kolawole Ojelabi, Head of Media and Communications.

    He said the recognition of the contribution of LAMATA to public transportation would further spur the agency to deliver more projects that would be of benefits to the people.

    Dabiri said the ongoing BRT dedicated lane from Oshodi to Abule Egba on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway would  present another first-class transport infrastructure that would reduce travel time, cost and waiting time for public transportation.

    “LAMATA had introduced the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) with an application, Lagos BRT app to assist commuters in planning their journeys and determine the arrival of buses at the various bus shelters.

    “Lagos BRT is infrastructure project of the year with immense benefits to the movement of more than 60 million passengers since its completion in 2015.

    “The 129 year old Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) recently awarded the Mile 12 to Ikorodu BRT project implemented by LAMATA the Infrastructure Project of the Year,” he added.

    The managing director assured that residents would soon begin to see changes being introduced by LAMATA in bringing transport infrastructure to all parts of the state.

    He said the BRT extension from Mile 12- Ikorodu Town was a median lane operation with restricted access to bus stations and pedestrian bridges and walkways.

    According to him, the Mile 12 to Ikorodu BRT is an upgraded version of the Mile 12 to CMS BRT system, which was designed to convey an estimated 300,000 passengers daily using 434 high capacity buses with an average of 10 minutes headway frequency.

    “The Mile 12 to Ikorodu Bus Rapid Transit “CLASSIC” System extension is conceived to compliment the already existing Mile 12 to CMS BRT system, which was the first in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “The system provides a high quality, high capacity and low-cost public transportation system operating on specialised infrastructure with adequate incentives to offer affordable mobility, sustainable urban environment and better quality of life to urban population.”

    Dabiri said that infrastructure under the upgrade consists of additional 27 km of asphaltic lane for BRT operation, 54 km lane rehabilitation, provision of 18 bridges at nine different locations along the corridor with six pedestrian bridges.

    The LAMATA boss said that about 15 bus shelters, three terminals and a bus depot/maintenance yard with a modern office space for the bus system and its staff were also upgraded.

  • LAMATA, LASAA warn public against phony job adverts

    LAMATA, LASAA warn public against phony job adverts

    Lagos State Government agencies, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), have warned residents against applying for phony job advertised on public utilities.

    The agencies told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the consequences of patronising advertisements placed on some of the LAMATA bus sheds and other places open spaces were calamitous.

    NAN reports that most of the newly upgraded LAMATA bus sheds have been defaced with phony jobs placement by unscrupulous people who are out to scam unsuspecting job seekers.

    Most of the job adverts were written with black ink and most written under the cover of the night when there is less presence of security personnel.

    Almost all the newly constructed LAMATA bus sheds of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) have the Job adverts. The sheds at CMS, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Costain, Barracks, Ojota and Ketu among others were not spared.

    One of the BRT Bus Ticket sellers on the employ of LAMATA, Ronke Adisa, told NAN that the adverts were often placed in the night to evade arrest by the Police.

    “We come in the morning to see the job adverts written on the bus sheds. We are aware that they are not genuine and I have even warned someone copying the numbers written on the wall.

    “Most of the job seekers may not be aware of it because they are desperate. Things are very hard for people, so some people want to use that avenue to exploit.

    “People engaging in this act are heartless by fleecing people who are already depressed. Aside that, they are also destroying the beauty of the bus sheds.

    “I implore those concerned to find a way of arresting the perpetrators of this ungodly act,’’ she said.

    A LAMATA Supervisor, Tunde said that some of the phone numbers written by the fake advertisers were traceable, so, law enforcement agents could track them if they were willing to.

    “Some of the phone numbers are genuine because they needed to get those that will fall prey to their scam.

    “Out of curiosity, I have dialled some of the numbers and I found out that the line was active; I wonder why security agencies cannot track them down to serve as deterrent.

    “I want the security agencies to be alive to their responsibility and track down those responsible for this act who know they may not be only fraudsters but kidnappers.

    “For us working at the BRT stations, it is not our duty to be on the lookout for those responsible but to attend to the customers,’’ he said.

    Reacting, the Head, Media and Communication, LAMATA, Mr Kolawole Ojelabi, warned the public to disregard the deceitful adverts placed on its properties by the fraudsters.

    “I am appealing to the public to be guided about the fake job adverts placed on our bus sheds. We are not responsible for it and we don’t advertise jobs.

    “We have plans for the spaces on the LAMATA bus sheds which we have concluded plans to concession for genuine adverts.

    “As a responsible company that is out to serve people, we are aware of the fake job adverts and we have alerted security agencies about it and some arrests have been made.

    “We have reported the case to the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Offences and they are working to see that the perpetrators are brought to justice,’’ he said.

    Ojelabi warned that LAMATA would not be responsible for any untoward effect on anybody patronising the fake job advertisers.

    “We are not responsible for the adverts and we are using this opportunity to warn members of the public on the consequences of patronising scammers.

    “Some of these adverts may not be only to defraud but they may also be to kidnap people, so, I want members of the public to be guided on these adverts on LAMATA bus sheds.

    “We will continue to serve the people and see to their welfare by providing efficient and qualitative transport service,’’ he said.

    An official of LASAA said that the existing laws prohibiting adverts on public spaces was still in place and anyone found contravening the law would be dealt with.

    “We have existing laws that prohibit the display of such adverts. Those responsible for such adverts are contravening the law and they will be prosecuted when caught.

    “LASAA will not condone such act, especially when it is not in the interest of the public. Relevant security agencies are on the heels of the perpetrators.

    “The laws that prohibit such advert placements is not just for the LAMATA bus sheds but for all the public spaces we have.

    “Nobody has the right to paste posters unless approved by LASAA. I also want people to be wary of paying attention to those adverts in their interest,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that many residents have complained of being defrauded after apply for such jobs.

    Some said that after applying, you were asked to go and pay a certain amount for interview. After paying that, the fraudsters again ask you to pay thousands to get the job which in the end would not come.

  • Subair to replace Ogunsanwo at LIRS

    Subair to replace Ogunsanwo at LIRS

    The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday nominated Mr Ayodele Subair for confirmation by the state House of Assembly as the new Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).

    Ambode, in a letter to the House of Assembly, said the development became necessary following the retirement of the erstwhile Chairman, Mr Folarin Ogunsanwo, who held the post since September 2015.

    He said that Subair’s presentation to the House of Assembly for confirmation was in conformity with Section 2 of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law (2006).

    Subair, according to the letter, was born on May 21, 1960, and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the Metropolitan University of Manchester, United Kingdom.

    He also holds a Masters Degree in Business administration from the University of Lagos.

    The nominee is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), member of both the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN).

    He has over 34 years working experience, which started with the Price WaterHouse Chartered Accountants, before venturing into private practice in 1987 with the Hamzat Subair and Co. Chartered Accountants where he is the Managing Partner.

    Subair, the pioneer Director of Lagos State Lotteries Board, has worked with various international agencies such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

    Ambode also approved the appointment of Mr Abiodun Dabiri as the new Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

    Dabiri, born on Jan. 2, 1964, holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Lagos.

    He is a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), corporate member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN).

    Dabiri joined LAMATA in 2008 and was until his appointment the Head of Procurement and Operational Contract Manager for the agency.