Efficient transportation drives economic development, says NURTW president

Transportation is a critical component of economic development, the Chairman, Board of Directors, Amalgamated Mega-City Transport Services Limited (AMTSL), and National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, said.

Akinsanya stated this while speaking at the inauguration of the first batch of 15 Ashok Leyland Falcon Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses acquired by AMTSL in Lagos.

He stressed that an efficient transportation system was essential to the growth and productivity of any economy.

According to him, when transportation works effectively, workers are able to get to their workplaces, students can access schools, businesses can operate efficiently, goods can reach markets, and families can connect with economic opportunities.

He said the inauguration marked a significant milestone in the journey of AMTSL, which began with the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) bidding process and later culminated in the incorporation of the company through the collaboration between the NURTW and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

Akinsanya noted that the procurement of the buses involved years of planning, negotiations and engagements with financial institutions, manufacturers, government agencies and other stakeholders.

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He noted that the 15 buses inaugurated were the first batch of a total commitment of 50 buses, with the remaining 35 expected before the end of December 2026.

He commended the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Lagos State government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for their commitment to improving transportation, while also appreciating the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Keystone Bank Plc and other partners for their roles in the project.

The NURTW president urged the drivers of the new buses to demonstrate discipline, courtesy, patience and professionalism, describing them as ambassadors of AMTSL and the organised transport sector.

He said the inauguration represented a new beginning for the company, its workers and passengers, and reaffirmed AMTSL’s commitment to supporting efficient, reliable and sustainable public transportation in Lagos State.