The Special Adviser, to the Governor of Lagos State on Transportation, Mr. Oluwatoyin Fayinka, has said that the First and Last Mile (FLM) initiative of the State Government is not negotiable.
He made the declaration at a consultative meeting with the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu; Leader of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos Chapter, Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya and representative of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Mr. Albert Omotayo, Deputy Chairman (OPS), held on Wednesday at the State Police Command in Ikeja.
Fayinka explained that the meeting was organised to further seek the full cooperation of the transport stakeholders in the State on the smooth operation of the First and Last Mile (FLM) buses launched by the State Government to enhance inner community routes transportation.
He urged both the NURTW and RTEAN to cooperate with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) for the smooth running of the FLM buses which have been deployed to some areas of the State.
While reiterating that the State Government will not tolerate any form of harassment from individuals or Unions on the smooth running of the buses along the designated routes, the Special Adviser charged LAMATA to fulfil the necessary obligations to the transport unions on the mode of operation.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, assured the stakeholders of his unflinching support by directing the Area Commanders and DPOs in all 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas in the State to ensure the safety of both commuters and the operators of the FLM buses.
Recall that 500 FLM buses, as well as 100 High-Capacity buses, were launched by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State on 18th May, 2021 to enhance passengers’ connectivity between inner and major routes in the State.
