Lagos bus conductors to start wearing uniforms and identification as from January 1 next year

BUS conductors across Lagos State are to begin wearing uniforms as from January 1 next year as part of the ongoing programme by the government to turn the state into a world class metropolis that compete with similar cities elsewhere.

By far the most investor-friendly state in the country, Lagos accounts for about 95% of all foreign direct investment into Nigeria. Apart from the fact that Lagos State accounts for one quarter of Nigeria's gross domestic product (GDP) and one third of all non-oil GDP, it is also the fastest growing part of the economy and the only state that is self-reliant.

As part of plans to build on this, the state government is stepping up infrastructural projects across Lagos and is also beefing up security as well as looking to build a new business hub called Eko Atlantic City. According to the Bus Conductors Association of Nigeria (BCAN), its members in Lagos State will start wearing uniforms from January1, 2018 for security and effective service delivery.

Israel Adeshola, the BCAN national president, said the operational uniform would bring sanity to the service in the state and the country as a whole.  He added that the association has started training its members in Lagos State and educating them on job procedures and attitudinal change while on duty.

Mr Adeshola said: “The association has been able to train a reasonable number of conductors on behavioural change. We started the registrations and training at the Lagos State Drivers Institute for attitudinal change in orientation of the members toward passengers and traffic rules.

“By January1, 2018, all our registered members will be in their operational uniforms for proper identification and effective service delivery. We are coming out to tell Lagos residents that bus conducting is a respected profession like in other western countries where they are respected because they offer humanitarian services."

He explained that part of the reason for training its members was to ensure adequate security of passengers and good customer relationship with the people they relate with. According to Mr Adeshola,  putting on uniforms with identification numbers would ensure accountability and bring a sense of responsibility among the members.

Furthermore, Mr Adeshola said that the association was working towards eradicating the menace of using under-age as bus conductors across the country. He announced that only persons from 18 years and above were qualified to join the association.

According to Mr Adeshola, any minor found operating as a bus conductor should be arrested. Transport minister Rotimi Amaechi, added that the introduction of uniforms for bus conductors would ensure safety and bring more development to the nation’s transport sector.

Mr Amaechi said: “You have to change the perception of the people. You have to create a positive impression about yourself and make yourself accessible.”