LEASE-PURCHASE OF KEKE MARWA

BACKGROUND

Road transportation is an essential part of human activity, and in many ways form the basis of all socio-economic interactions. Indeed, no two locations will interact effectively without a viable means of movement. In many developing countries, inadequate transport facilities are often the norm rather than the exception. Thus, a good transport system is essential to support economic growth and development. Since the attainment of independence in 1960, the problems of Nigerian transport system include bad roads; inadequate fleets of buses or trucks; irregular, inadequate and overcrowded vehicles and congested roads. These are common features of the developing world. In line with these are physical problems such as dearth of suitably-trained transport managers and planners, capital restructuring bottlenecks, serious issues of institutional reforms and ineffective traffic regulations.

These constrains being experienced in Nigerian road transportation system, especially in Lagos metropolis, led the Lagos State Government to introduce a body – Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) - to solve the problems. LAMATA was established in 2002. It is governed by a 13-member board, which was inaugurated in December 2003.

Current situation

Lagos is a city of over 18 million inhabitants and by 2015, the population is project to reach about 25 million people, a figure that will make Lagos the third largest mega city in the world. The huge population of Lagos has therefore been largely responsible for the increase in the intensity of traffic congestion and by extension, environmental degradation.

Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) provides corporate and strategic policy direction for the transport system of metropolitan Lagos. It aims to improve and maintain cost-effective transport services. LAMATA works closely with the Ministry of Works (MOW), the Ministry of Transportation, the Lagos State Government and the World Bank. The Lagos Metropolitan Area continues to experience severe traffic congestion, with an estimated population of between 12.5 and 15 million and a population growth of some 6 per cent per year. The metropolitan area is expanding into neighbouring Ogun State, with commuter trips growing in both length and number.

The introduction of tricycles known as (a.k.a. Keke Marwa or Keke NAPEP) was an ardent proponent of mass empowerment as a tool for wealth creation and one of the measures of cushioning the economic recession. The Keke NAPEP initiative has seen the Obasanjo administration purchasing about four thousand motorised three wheelers (tricycles), which were in turn distributed to otherwise unemployed Nigerians as a major plank of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME as one of the measure to cushion the economic recession and empower the general masses. The trend over the years has proved that the programme cannot fully emancipate the people hence the need for the private sector participation.

The inspiration for this current Tricycle Project, which we are introducing to NOW introducing on lease/purchase basis to the interested members of the public, stems from a combination of factors. These are the three ways one can react to the situation:

1. You can completely ignore a prevailing situation and pretend that you are a foreigner in your own local environment;

2. You could appear to be concerned but helpless in the sense that you only offer your regrets and move on;

3. You could feel sufficiently challenged by the situation and thereby decided to contribute to the practical reduction or possibly reversing the unpalatable circumstances.

Our organization is more inclined to the third option because it offers us an opportunity to share our wealth of experience and humanity in a meaningful way.

For us, the challenge is to see how we can contribute no matter how modestly, to transforming this enormous opportunity and asset into a productive work force and wealth within the community.