Non-Use Of Yoruba Language In Train: LAMATA To Appears Before Lagos Assembly

By Oche Alechenu __

The Lagos State House Assembly has on Tuesday summon the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to appear before the House plenary over agency's declined to add Yoruba alongside English languages for announcements and instructions in its train in service.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State on September 4th, flagged off the commercial operations of the Blue Rail Line in the State.

The Members cited how importance is the Yoruba language in disseminating information to passengers on the trains and how it would help some of them, especially new users whom the House claimed will easily comprehend the instruction given to them and know what to do in the Yoruba language which is widely spoken in the city.

It is noted that, since 2017 a Bill was passed mandating the teaching of Yoruba Language in schools in Lagos State. Adding that the State government had made deliberate efforts to encourage the use of the language in public places which can only be sustained when the people uses it in their day to day activities.

On this note, the State House of Assembly called on LAMATA to appear before the Honourable House Members and explain to them the reasons behind its refusal to adopt and practice and the use of the language in their domain.

The government announced during the flagg-off, that for the first four weeks in operation, the trains will run only twelve trips with the locomotive system - there after, one month.

The public should take notes; LAMATA will commence electric-powered train operation with 76 trips, estimating between 150,000 and 175,000 passengers from 5:30AM to 11:00PM daily.