Group Launches App to Improve Transport System in Lagos

Ugo Aliogo and Azeezat AbdulKareem

As part of efforts to improve transportation infrastructure in Lagos State, IWorld Transit Solution Limited, a sister company of IWorld Financial Services Limited has launch a mobile application known as Soole, which would help in funding of infrastructure services and improve transportation through use of technology.

Addressing journalists over the weekend in Lagos, the Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Charles Ojo, said the development of transport infrastructure in Nigerian is vital, noting that there has been a great decay in transport infrastructure over the years, adding that the company is focused on development of infrastructure.

Speaking on the initiative, Ojo explained that the Soole has taxi service and right sharing service, adding that the taxi services has two categories yellow and private cabs, while the yellow cabs are divided into standard and deluxe, and the private cabs are standard deluxe and executive.

Ojo said the payment option is electronic for now, stressing that they want to discourage the challenges faced with cash payment which can occur between the driver and passenger, but they are planning to modify it in the future, “the payment system is 24hours and the passenger safety is assured. It is meter driven payment, therefore you can pick that suits you.”

He noted that they are partnering with experienced drivers, adding that working with them for the past six months, they have identified their plate numbers and other basic information, and they also visited four hundred and thirty seven parks in total.

“The drivers are trained on the use of application and also the customers’ service. The training will continue for these drivers. The drivers in Surulere are the toughest to convince because the drivers there are old. What we have done with our product is that you know how much it will cost before embarking on your destinations. We are concerned with discouraging with decongestion in Lagos roads. The application has a GPRS which tells the passenger the time and distance. From records, it has been proved that the yellow cabs are the most organized. We alos have the ladies only where ladies can have a ride with fellow ladies. We also have charter services. The price categories are there in application and it can be downloaded on Apple and play stores respectively or www.soole.com.ng,” he added.

He added that they have done the first round of training for drivers in the mainland in conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), stating that they have trained 105, out of 300 registered drivers, and they are expected to conduct another round of training for drivers in the Island in two weeks’ time.

The project is aimed at addressing the transportation needs of large number of Lagosians moving from different destinations across the state, noting that they are working with regulators, bus companies and they have also raised the technology, “we realised that what we can do to raise the standard of the technology that is why we came up with Soole.”

Ojo added that they are working with operators of yellow cabs to help them get new cars, stressing that they have given them 6 months to see how they operate, while maintaining that everything about the application is 100 percent Nigerian from the conceptualisation to design of the applications.

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