Fashola Launches Nigeria’s First E-ticketing For BRT Buses

Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, yesterday launched the new electronic ticketing (e-ticket) system for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses under the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to bring world best practice in transportation to the state.

 Fashola who launched the e-ticket system, first of its kind in the country at the BRT CMS Terminal in Marina, said with the digitalised system it was now possible for commuters to pay as low as N20 for short distance journey.

According to him, the introduction was to make the transportation system via BRT buses more efficient and fast for both operators and users.

The governor represented by his deputy, Mrs Adejoke  Orelope-Adefulire, said users of BRT buses with the e-ticket can pay less for travel time as well as make the process of ticketing more user friendly.

He said, “We have over the years strived to ensure that we have very effective and reliable transportation system on the road, on water and on rail system. From the event of today, what we have done is to make road infrastructure more attractive, more reliable and more efficient for those who chose to use this service, especially those at the grassroots who will make use of this from today.

“It will give users the opportunity to save, instead of paying N120 or N70, you can pay as low as N20 for a journey from Mile 12 to Ojota, you can also buy a week or a month worth on your card depending on your travel time which is more effective and makes the process efficient and fast.”

Fashola explained that the e-ticket system is a step in the right direction as the state government continually seeks to improve its intra-model transportation system.

According to him, “We have looking forward to attaining the transportation system that obtains in developed countries and as we are developing our model befitting of a mega city state”.

Earlier, Managing Director of LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola said the e-ticketing system is being developed not just for the BRT buses but for other means of transportation like ferries and trains that would take off soon in the state.

“This e-ticketing model is to make it easier for passengers to be able to travel at ease making use of this system. It is equitable, simple, easier for collection, easy for control of operators, it is attractive to both users also for the administrators as well as the operators.

“It has intra-modal abilities which at the end of the day you can use it for not just the buses, you can also use it for ferry and on train eventually and it has a simple pairing and sharing methodology”, Mobereola added.

LAMATA boss said each of the BRT buses is equipped with an automated fare collection system that the commuters can use when they embark on their journey to when they disembark from the bus.


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