The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport of Nigeria (CILT) Lagos branch has called for the introduction of a road tax system that will discourage use of privately-owned vehicles on certain roads around the state.
The group also backed the recent ban of motor cycles and tricycles otherwise known as okada and Keke Maruwa by the Lagos state government in major areas across the State.
Speaking in an interview weekend, the Chairman of the Young professionals of the CILT, Mr. Dennis Ujah opined that the ban was long overdue saying it should have been done long ago.
According to him, “There is little or nothing the Lagos state government could do differently. it is long overdue it is something the government should have done long ago as keke and okada deface the mega city, Lagos state.
“You will recall that while keke and okada were in operations, they were huge contributors to congestion on the road, menace of obstruction, accidents and crime at its peak.
“Their ban is a welcome development that must be sustained as it will aid the actualisation of a smart city which Lagos is tending towards as well as reduce insecurity, accidents and even emissions to the atmosphere.
Ujah stressed the need to encourage the use of public transportation and indeed encourage inter modal means of transportation ( such as rail, roads, waterways, etc) in its bid to providing a robust and effective transportation system.
He stated that the Lagos state government can further enforce this by ensuring that driving privately owned cars are greatly discouraged by way of a tax system especially during peak periods.
“For instance, the government can mark some roads as taxed road meaning that if you drive a private car on this road, you will be taxed. This itself will discourage the use of private owned cars while encouraging the use of public transportation system,” he explained.
While acknowledging deficits of transport infrastructure within he state and country, Mr. Ujah stated that the available resources has not been used up maximally.
