21st February, 2011
Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, has identified corruption as one of the banes of the transportation sector in Nigeria.
Badejo spoke when students of the Great Independent Hall, University of Ibadan, gave him an award recently as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the hall.
According to Badejo, despite the success story of Lagos in this area , the transportation situation in Nigeria had not been able to respond positively to the social, economic and political development needs of the masses.
He said this was due to poor access to funds, corruption at high level, lack of database information, poor infrastructure and unfavourable government polices among other challenges.
The commissioner stated that for radical changes to occur, leadership at all levels of government must show love, kindness, sacrifice, fairness and self-denial of unnecessary luxuries and should exhibit leadership by example by being disciplined, selfless and committed.
A lecture titled: The transportation realities, challenges and opportunities of  Lagos State: The leadership imperatives and synergy, was held at the event.
As alumni of the great hall, Badejo recalled the contribution of Independence Hall towards the formation of positive socio- cultural development, areas of education and the elevation of norms, ideas and values in Nigeria and around the globe.
He said the topic was timely, especially at this critical moment in the evolution of Nigeria in the selection of leadership in less than 70days.
Badejo noted that Lagos, despite being the smallest state in Nigeria had benefited enormously from leaders with human faces who are always determined to vigorously pursue responsibilities given to them.
According to him, the monumental achievements recorded in the transportation sector in Lagos State were due to the commitment, conviction and robust leadership demonstrated by the state governor in the deliverance of people-oriented programmes.