Ahead of the take-off of operations at the newly commissioned bus terminals at Ojoo and Challenge, in Ibadan, the Oyo State Government has organised a two-day orientation programme for park managers, transporters, and other users of the bus terminals.
The General Manager, Oyo State Road Traffic Management Agency (OYRTMA), Mr Ayoade Adeoye who represented the Executive Chairman, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi at the event, said the programme was aimed at orientating all the users of the terminals on the proper way to make use of the facilities and how to conduct themselves, especially during operation hours, in the bid to transform the transportation system and boost the economy of the state.
He said: “We have gathered them together today to give them health talk, security tips, to let them know the new attitude they need to imbibe because you can’t compare this place to their former garages and former places they have been carrying passengers. This is a modern setup which needs a kind of new orientation.”
One of the speakers at the event, the representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs Titilope Asiru, advised users of the terminals against drug use and abuse noting that drug sellers should not be permitted in the premises of the terminals.
She also advised that passengers should be well monitored so as to guard against anyone trying to smuggle incriminating substance into the terminals.
She said: We recommend that they should endeavor to make sure they search both the passengers and their luggages very well, they should not be after money. They should know whom they are carrying and they should establish a kind of monitoring unit that will monitor passengers who may probably be into drugs.”
On his part, the chairman, Park Management System in the state, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, popularly known as Auxiliary, stressed the campaign of no smoking of substance in the terminal, while also advising users, most especially drivers, to make sure their buses are in good shape.
Lamidi said: “They should make good use of this place so that the governor will be impressed to do even more. It is for our own good and if we do well, the governor will build another better one for us. My advise for drivers are many. One is that smoking is not allowed here.
“Two, they should ensure that their buses are in good shape and form and three, the drivers must have a good manner of approach and communication skills.”
Also, the Consultant/Operation Manager for the Ibadan bus terminals, Mr Foluso Olubakinde, explained that the orientation is necessary because the terminal is a new transportation system in the state hence the need to familiarise the users with the process and the operational plan in the terminal, so that they could understand the concept of the terminal.
“The reason we organised this event is for us to reorientate the drivers. We know that they know their job but the facilities and the terminals management is a new thing to the drivers and we need to have a bit of discussion so that they can be familiarised with the process and the operational plan in the terminals so that they will understand the concept of the terminal.”
Olubakinde disclosed that the governor, having realised the need for proper management of the facilities, said the agencies of the government that would secure the facilities and guarantee security for the users of the terminal and the operators within the terminal, be part of the orientation so all of them would collaborate for the better use of the terminal.
