When Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab announced that the Obalende Bus Stop would be transformed into a modern bus transport hub that will transform the Obalende loop, underbridge and adjoining lay-by into an aesthetically-pleasing and functional public space, befitting of a truly mega-city, many applauded the initiative, especially as the project which will be fully sponsored by telecommunication giant, MTN as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contribution.

However, the state government document revealed that N129 million had been spent in 2025 to upgrade the Obalende underbridge and setback development, which is also part of what MTN would be doing with its Obalende Yello Park project.

According to the Lagos State Budget performance document 2025, there was a budget line item titled ‘Landscaping & Beautification of Obalende Underbridge and Setback, Dev. of New Parks and Garden (i)’ with the Lagos State Parks & Gardens as the executing agency.

The document revealed that N194. 2 million was the approved budget expenditure but as at the end of the fourth quarter of the 2025 budget, about N129 million of the money had been spent. Of the money expended, while N60.55 million was spent in the fourth quarter, N23.256 million was used up for the project in the third quarter. This also implied that N45.227 million was spent on the landscaping and beautification of Obalende under-bridge in the first and second quarters of 2025.

But when The Guardian visited Obalende bus stop during the week, there was no sign of any landscaping and beautification carried out within the location at least in the outgoing year. As a result, The Guardian reached out to the Public Affairs Officer of the Lagos State Parks and Garden Agencies, one Mrs. Bakare. After she was briefed about the revelation of the budget document on what was spent on landscaping and beautification of Obalande Underbridge, she said: “I will suggest you do a letter to the agency, give details of your request including the necessary document you alluded to so that the agency can have the full picture in providing clarification. You can also send the letter via email.”

She accompanied the statement with the email address that the letter could be sent to, which was complied with and the agency acknowledged it received the letter. Mrs. Bakare was also notified after the letter was sent. Days after the letter was sent and a reminder was sent to Mrs Bakare that no response yet, The Guardian was yet to get a response on no landscaping and beautification of Obalende underbridge despite N129 million was spent

Meanwhile, in the statement signed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, he said the proposed transformation on which work will soon start, will include organized and regulated bus operations as well as well-labeled location signages.

The hub to be named Y’ELLO Bus Park will feature installation of solar panels to support long-term energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint.

He added that the new transport hub will have provisions for a recyclable drop-off station to promote waste management and recycling.

“Tree planting is also planned to improve air quality and enhance the visual appeal of the environment”.

Also to be included are road camps for LAWMA Sweepers and Security Agencies including KAI and Neighborhood Agency.

According to Wahab, features of the new transport hub also include Food and Beverage Kiosks for passengers, ticketing Booths and public toilets to eradicate open defecation. He explained that the project is community-centered to improve the health, well-being, security and aesthetics of the Obalende area, ultimately helping to reduce crime rate.

“The proposed hub will also contribute to protecting the integrity of the McGregor Canal which often gets heavily silted and blocked, leading to frequent clean-up efforts by the State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources” the Commissioner explained.

Wahab stated that the space currently being used as the Obalende Bus Stop has grown to be one of the busiest transport hubs in Lagos, serving as a major gateway connecting Ikoyi, Victoria Island and as a conduit to the Mainland through the Third Mainland Bridge.

“Over time, rapid urbanization, population growth and informal economic activities have altered the area’s character with the prevalence of activities such as illegal trading, improper waste management, unauthorized use by non-state actors, lack of greening and landscaping, open defecation, shanties and illegal structures vagrants.”

It will be recalled that Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu visited the site on February 18, 2024, confirming the sad reality of a deviation from the vision of Lagos as a Mega City.

He also saw the deteriorating aesthetics of the area that was affecting security, public health, ease of movement and overall livability especially as Obalende connects to strategic business districts in Lagos.

Following Mr. Governor’s visit, there have been several interventions to restore order to the area with the most recent enforcement and cleanup in December 2025 and January 2026 by the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.

Just days after the commissioner announced the Yello bus park, there was another statement that said Lagos state government and MTN officials met and agreed to set up a technical committee to fast track commencement of construction.

Speaking after the presentation of the project concept and drawings by officials of MTN at Alausa, the Special Adviser on Transportation, Sola Giwa said each of the involved agencies and local government must work together with MTN to ensure that the goals for erecting the park is not defeated.

He stated that optimal use must also be made of the Obalende Bus Park so that all categories of commercial vehicles will be accommodated and no one is displaced. He added that the technical committee would report back with its findings before a fortnight so that another meeting can hold at the same venue in two weeks preparatory to mobilizing MTN to commence construction.

The project, which will cover the main Bus Park, Bus Terminal Park 2, alongside supporting facilities like a loading Bay and Park Garden, is expected to be completed within a 21-week construction timeline.

The meeting, it was said, was also attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretary Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Mahamood Adegbite; Chairman of Obalende/Ikoyi LCDA, Mr. Bola Oladunjoye; General Manager of the Lagos State Parks and Garden Agencies (LASPARK) Mrs. Adetoun Popoola and many heads of agencies and top officials of the State and MTN Nigeria. (The Guardian)

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