Lagos State Transport Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill 2018 Scales First, Second Reading

The Transport Sector Reform Amendment Bill 2018 championed by the chairman, House committee on transportation in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Adewale Temitope, was finally laid before the House during plenary on Monday.

The bill, which seeks to provide a harmonious law for all parts of the transport sector in Lagos state in other to have a clearer and focused framework for transport operation, enjoyed a robust deliberation and contribution of the Honourable members during the plenary session and scaled through the first and second reading successfully.

The House of Assembly, through the Committee on transportation, had organized a one-day Public Hearing led by Hon. Temitope Adewale and the LV outstanding members of the Committee precisely on the 30th of September 2020 in which all the transport sector stakeholders in the State were invited for deliberations.

Their observations, suggestions, and views were taken into consideration and consolidated by the Transportation Committee of the House members.

The contribution and the amendment of the public hearing, therefore, formed the basic ingredients for the consolidation of the bill, which had in it, introduction of new regulations that would address the spate of accident, indiscriminate parking and unhealthy use of the road, and also addresses the penalties for flagrant abuse of the traffic laws of the State.

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Hon Adewale Temitope, while presenting the bill on behalf of the Committee, appreciated the speaker, Rt. Hon Obasa for the privilege given to examine the transport sector law and his nod towards its complete overhauling.

He also thanked him for the confidence he reposed in the Committee to do justice to the bill.

According to him, "The proposed amendment bill will introduce reform in road traffic, Transport Sector and the various Laws that were consolidated in 2018 such as The Lagos State Road Traffic Law; Road Traffic Regulations; The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority Law; The Vehicle Inspection Service; The Lagos State Inland Waterways Authority Law; The Lagos State Parking Authority Law; The Lagos State Drivers' Training Institute Law; Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority and The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority Law that were previously separated are all been harmonized under this amendment bill.”

Before the bill was laid, Hon Adewale further added that the amended bill would address the overlapping functions among the implementing agencies and ensure clear-cut functions to strengthen the transportation sector of the State.

The bill is now before the House awaiting the third reading and consideration for passage into law.
It is expected that Lagos state transportation will witness a new lease of life when the bill finally becomes a law.