Not a few commuters that patronise the popular Bus Rapid Transit (BRT also known as LAGBUS) public transport scheme operated by the Lagos State Government were stranded early in the week when the drivers and ticket personnel downed tools to protest unpaid salaries and reversed terms of service. Reports indicated that as early as 6am, commuters were stranded at various BRT terminals, while resort to the usual public transport system became a transition from a bad to a worse situation. Call it jumping from the frying pan into the fire, as jubilant public transporters cashed in on the non-availability of BRT buses to fleece commuters. Many that could not afford the high transport charges trekked ridiculous distances to get to their places of work or business, while the frustrated returned home.
Some of the drivers complained that LAGBUS Asset Management Limited slashed their salaries from N60,000 to N45,000; and their performance bonus from N20,000 to N14,000. They also lamented they were being sanctioned anyhow, as well as the extension of their working hours beyond 6am to 2pm and 2pm to 10pm.
There was also the controversy about reversed terms of service, as was evident from placards displayed at the LAGBUS office. Some of the placards read: “All LAGBUS will no longer use the dedicated BRT lane between Ikorodu and CMS because they are not paying the expected maintenance fees for the corridor”; “Onboard sales of pax tickets will cease on all LAGBUS red buses, Ticket will be sold prior to passenger boarding”; “All LAGBUS red buses will not be allowed to drop or pick passengers on the road along Ikorodu Road/ Western Avenue”; “LAGBUS will only operate express service between Ikorodu and Oshodi and the first stop will be Anthony”; “LAGBUS will only operate express service between the Ikorodu, Ojubode and Obalende”; “LAGBUS will stop operation on the following routes, Owode-ijora, Mile 12-Yaba, Oyingbo –Mile 12 and Mile 12 to inner Marina”; “All LAGBUS red buses will stop operations on the following routes: Agric (Ikorodu)-Maryland Ketu-Ikorodu”; “All LAGBUS red buses travelling from Berger to Oshodi will do so via Gbagada /Oworonshoki”; “All LAGBUS red buses operating from Oshodi to Obalende will only travel via Third Mainland Bridge”.
About four days ago, the LAGBUS Franchisee Forum (LFF) pleaded with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to save their investment from ruin following government’s prohibition of their services on the BRT corridor. Chairman of the forum, Mr Role Odukale, at a conference with the media in Lagos on behalf the 17 operators of LAGBUS franchisee, said the development would not only kill their business, but also bring hardship to residents of the state. “For us, it is the people that will suffer as evident today across bus stops in Lagos.
This situation will add to our woes, we will not be able to meet up with our bank obligations because we borrowed money from banks. What this means is that few buses will be available to serve over 20 million residents of the state. It is important to know that about 5, 000 people we engage in our services will lose their jobs. This directive should be reversed. The step taken by the government to restrict red buses from plying the BRT corridor will bring monopoly into the system, which can lead to exploitation. Our investment is huge, let the government save our businesses and the people. None of us has less than 20 buses and a depot each, no one has invested less than N300 million. More than N5 billion investment is in danger.
We have about 1,200 buses in this investment. We started operations since February 2007 and we maintained the same fare up till date in spite of the increase in the prices of diesel and maintenance. We also use our buses to carry people free at every festive season. We also pay royalty on every passenger to the state government in advance, even before picking the passengers. What we are doing is more or less a social service,” Odukale cried.
It would appear the LAGBUS scheme has truly run into a big hitch. The project on its commencement was, indeed, a huge relief from the dangerous and rickety ‘Molue experience’. The buses were kept neat and the seating and loading arrangements decent and tolerable. But no sooner had the scheme won the hearts of Lagosians than its operators turned it to exactly the same eyesore that Molue was, with more people standing than those sitting. Indeed, with the prevailing experience of Lagosians with red BRT buses, it is better permitting the return of Molue than allowing them steal from the backdoor the glory they do not deserve. It is no surprise that the Lagos State Government has booted them out of dedicated BRT lanes.
But because of the business interests at stake, the state government should find ways of regulating red BRT buses especially, for as long as they are ready to offer decent services to Lagosians as against their current Molue-type services.
Comments