Commuters in Lagos State have expressed concerns over the shortage of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses, which has led to long queues at bus stops.
As gathered by Quest Times, the commuters have appealed to the government to increase the number of buses in operation to ease the transportation challenges faced by residents.
They claimed that the increased reliance on BRT buses is attributed to the recent hike in transportation fares, which has made commercial buses less affordable. Many commuters find BRT to be a more economical option, despite the lengthy queues.
Recall that the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had in response to public appeals, implemented a 25% discount on BRT fares. However, commuters maintained that the shortage of buses continues to pose a significant problem.
Saheed, a regular BRT user while speaking with newsmen, urged the government to expand the BRT fleet to accommodate the growing demand. He highlighted the difficulties faced by commuters during harsh weather conditions, particularly under the scorching sun or during heavy rain.
“The Lagos State Government has actually tried for us in this state but they can do better. A lot of people now use the BRT buses in Lagos. We all know what is going on concerning the increase in the price of fuel and transport and all these yellow buses do not make it easier. A lot of us now know the value of the BRT but the queue sometimes is unbearable especially when the sun is hot and during rainy seasons,” he said.
Tobi Ayeni, another BRT commuter, expressed the belief that increased BRT availability would compel commercial bus operators to reduce their fares. He emphasized the need for additional buses on routes leading to major commercial hubs like Obalende, CMS, and Oyingbo.
He said, “If we have enough BRT buses, I strongly believe all these yellow buses will adjust because they will begin to lose customers and they will have no other option to at least reduce the cost of their fare that will be slightly comfortable for their passengers.
“We are all feeling the heat in the country right now but one thing I will beg the government to do is to please help us with enough buses going to Obalende, CMS and Oyingbo. All those places are actually quite far and a lot of people go there because they are market areas.”
Despite attempts to reach the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Wale Musa, for comment, he remained unresponsive to calls and text messages.
