LAGOS – Dr Giwa Olayiwola Mojeed (FCIOTA, MCILT), a scholar at the Department of Transport Technology and Infrastructure, Faculty of Transport and Logistics, Lagos State University, has propounded a model aimed at achieving a data-driven, seamless, accessible, lively and lucrative rail transportation system in Lagos.
Giwa, a well-travelled academic, envisions these for Lagos and ultimately, Nigeria via a model he christened the RAILQAUL.
The author of the book titled Rail Transportation: A View Of Service Quality and Passenger Satisfaction, in an exclusive chat with Daily Independent Online, emphasised his advocacy for the workability of an effective rail transportation system in Nigeria, beginning with Lagos State as a model.
The humble academic, who in the course of his doctoral research, traversed across continents doing comparative studies of the rail transportation system in Malaysia and Japan (with special interest in the effective, accident-free rail transportation in Tokyo, the capital city of industrial Japan), has decided to come back home and fathom a similar model for Lagos.
The LASU pride and a mentee of globally renowned Prof. Samuel Odewumi, a former Dean, Faculty of Transport and Logistics, Lagos State University, has made an outline of his vision for the school as the Head of Department, Transport Technology and Infrastructure.
The vision compromises, among many points:
Ensuring an easy, free-flowing vehicular ride in the school, ensuring that no broken-down vehicle is allowed to cause an obstruction on any driveway within the school.
Giwa also envisions making the school a hub of experts on logistics
According to him, the RAILQUAL will be explored to drive the performance and become the model of seamless transport.
The highly focused and determined LASU-baked, transportation-biased scholar wants to see Lagos operate an effective rail transportation that will boast of a Tokyo-like accident-free rail service.
“We are looking at a cheap, lively, accessible, data-driven rail service delivery by 2050 in Lagos, Nigeria.”; Giwa enthused.
Talking about access, Giwa scored the current rail service delivery in the country quite low, even bemoaning that:
“For example, access to the Lagos-Abeokuta rail terminal is killing, where you have to pay about double the fare for the actual train ride before you can access the terminals. No. This is not acceptable. That’s where connectivity and accessibility become very important.
“In fact, I envision a quality rail transport delivery that will look like an airport where passengers can feel relaxed while awaiting departure. “There must be life at rail terminals just as obtainable at the airports. “There must be convenience, connectivity, and access.
And I know that we are getting there. In fact, I am very happy with the appointment of Dr. Kayode Opeifa as the MD, Nigerian Railway Corporation. He will surely perform and bring life to the rail sector.
‘You see, apart from possessing a PhD in Transportation and Logistics, he has all the while been on the frontlines in the advocacy for an effective transportation system in Lagos and Nigeria.
In fact, it is time we add Rail Transportation Studies into the curriculum of the varsity system.
“Much of the attention has been paid to aviation, road, and water transport to the neglect of the rail system, which, in fact, should even enjoy the most attention.
“Why should I need to take my car out if the rail system is working as it should?” Giwa quizzed.
The transportation and logistics academic with a bias for rail also dropped a vital piece of advice that staff welfare should be paramount in the running of an effective rail service system. Giwa explained that a well-remunerated workforce whose other welfare package is robust will automatically constitute security assurance for the sector, wherein the staff will put in all they can to protect the facilities, image, and entity of the sector.
“If the welfare of the workers is guaranteed, the security of the property is guaranteed as well,” Giwa assured.
He also emphasised that the sector must be data-driven, for without a reliable database, there will be little to achieve.
Dr. Giwa also proffered that the management of the sector should remain open-minded to the workability of the public-private partnership (PPP) for convenient, effective funding.
Dr. Giwa Mojeed FCIOTA, MCILT, is a member of the Lagos State University Committee to the Local Government on Transportation Advocacy.
He is poised to give all in him into ensuring that, through consistent advocacy, the rail transport system is taken to the desired global-rated level in the near future.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT