Lagos moves to ban illegal interstate parks, enforces new accreditation standards

The Lagos State government has announced a new crackdown on illegal interstate parks across the state.

In a press briefing on Friday, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Seun Osiyemi, disclosed that only government-accredited interstate parks will be allowed to operate, as part of the state’s efforts to streamline transportation and ensure passenger safety.

According to Osiyemi, the state’s move is aimed at monitoring the movement of passengers in and out of Lagos, enhancing safety and security.

“We have started accrediting parks that meet the standards required to be classified as decent and compliant,” he said, adding that accredited parks will provide essential facilities such as public restrooms, designated entry and exit points, and a strict prohibition on the sale of alcohol, drugs, and marijuana.

As part of the process, the state plans to publish an online list of approved parks for public reference, allowing travelers to identify compliant facilities easily. In addition, passenger information will be recorded in a digital manifest system linked to a government portal, enabling authorities to access critical information in case of incidents.

Osiyemi emphasized that this reform aims to create a reliable, efficient transportation system across Lagos. “Our goal is to restore sanity at the parks and improve connectivity within the state,” he said, adding that the project has been assigned to a consultancy firm to oversee its implementation.

Olamide Afolabi, a representative of the consulting firm, noted that a monitoring team has been established to shut down any unauthorized interstate park lacking the official approval emblem. The consultancy will also assist familiar interstate parks in meeting the new standards required by the state government.

The initiative has gained support from the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). Lagos State NURTW Secretary, Mr. Usman O. Teslim, expressed the union’s commitment to the digital transformation of transportation records, calling it a positive shift from analog systems.

“This initiative recognizes the crucial role of transportation in Nigeria, and we’re fully on board,” he stated.

However, the Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association has not yet reached a consensus on the new system. Mr. Paul Okoghenun, a representative of the association, said that while they support the government’s effort to curtail illegal parks, discussions on the new system are ongoing.