A transport development company, Planet Projects Limited, has urged governments at all levels to pay more attention to public transport in view of its strategic importance to the economic wellbeing of the people.
The Managing Director of the firm, Mr. ‘Biodun Otunola, who gave the advice, observed that Nigerians spend between 30 per cent and 70 per cent of their incomes on transport with negative consequences on disposable income, purchasing power and aggregate demand in the economy.
This was contained in a statement obtained on Tuesday, which also conveyed that the firm won the African Award for Integrated Mobility by the International Association of Public Transport for its strides and contributions to the development of urban transportation in Africa.
The award was delivered at the 60th Congress of UITP in Geneva, Switzerland.
Otunola said PPL was prepared to work with governments at all levels to deliver comfortable and affordable transport systems to the citizenry.
He said PPL was set up to leverage on professional skill of the founders and lead the way for full delivery of public transport development in Nigeria from concepts, planning, institutions, infrastructure and operational frameworks.
He noted that the vision of the company was gradually being realised and the efforts of PPL at developing sustainable transport system in Nigeria had been recognised at the global level.
He dedicated the award to all the workers of PPL for their support and dedication over the years.
According to the statement, UITP is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry and global advocate of sustainable mobility and promoter of innovations in the sector.
“It is a platform for worldwide cooperation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,400 members from 92 countries,” it added.
Otunola expressed gratitude to God for the award and described the award as a reward for relentless pursuit of excellence in all of PPL’s operations, and a challenge to “think more and do more.”
It listed some of the company’s notable projects as the engineering design of corridor infrastructures for the Lagos BRT Lite, Traffic Impact Assessment for the Eko Atlantic City and the proposed Lekki Port, Lekki infrastructure master plan, transport master plan for Lagos Metropolitan Area, Lagos Island Municipal Transport Service and public transport infrastructure delivery covering traffic system management measures, mega-bus terminals, mini-terminals, bus depot, pedestrian bridge, bus shelters and junction improvement works for Lagos, Rivers, Ondo and Delta states.