Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to regulate the mile to mile taxi system with a view to ensure safety and security of passengers.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Prince Anofiu Olarewaju Elegushi, made the assertion at a press conference organised by the Ministry, saying that an appropriate franchise system had been developed to ensure control and regulation within the sector.

Explaining further, the Director of Public Transportation and Commuter Service, Mr. Olubunmi Odukoya, said the terms of taxi operations are contained in the Road Traffic law 2012 and subsequent regulation approved and released in January 2016.

While noting resistance and protest by some groups who wanted to pull out of their franchise, the Director said the State Government was not averse to any group or their interest by way of independence, adding that the dictates of the policy was to ensure they hold a franchise and by implication a licence.

Advising interested groups to obtain a franchise or join forces with any of the nine already existing franchisees, Odukoya insisted that regulation was in the overall interest of Lagosians.

Commenting also on “Kabukabu” and the ease with which people use their vehicle to provide taxi service, the Director noted that the enforcement arm of the State Government will soon begin to enforce the law to ensure registration of private cabs known as ‘kabukabu’ to create a database of owners of such vehicles.

He noted that for any group to operate under a franchisee, such must have a minimum of fifty vehicles, possess the adequate insurance facilities for vehicles and passengers alike and install safety gadgets in all its vehicles which must not be older than 12 years at the time of registration; those interested were urged to seek cost implications and other requirements for franchising at the Ministry of Transportation.

He recalled that in April 2015 the Lagos State Government launched a scheme which requires all taxi operators to register their details with government before operating cabs in the State, all in an effort to further improve the safety and security to commuters as they go about their business in Lagos.

Odukoya however added that the State Government will continue to dialogue with various groups to ensure that they are brought into the new taxi regulation system.

•Photo shows Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State.

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