LAGBUS Franchisee Forum, operators of high-capacity red buses in Lagos, on Monday appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to save their investment from ruin, following the government’s prohibition of their services on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.
The chairman of the forum, Mr Role Odukale, made the appeal at a news conference in Lagos.
Odukale, who spoke on behalf the 17 operators of LAGBUS franchisee, said that 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 s in danger.We have about 1,200 buses in this investment.”
The chairman said that the restriction would also affect foreign investment into the country, adding LAGBUS operation was just like a social services to the people.
“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 services,” he said.
The state government on Monday commenced restriction of LAGBUS branded buses from plying the BRT dedicated corridor along the Ikorodu-CMS route.
The government also prohibited LAGBUS buses from picking and dropping passengers along the Western Avenue as well as on board ticketing on LAGBUS buses which led to the suspension of LAGBUS operations across routes.
Hundreds of commuters in Lagos were on Monday stranded at various bus stops due to the strike embarked on by operators of Lagbus Asset Management Ltd (LAGBUS).
LAGBUS manages the Lagos State-owned branded red luxury commercial buses on some routes in Lagos.
Some commuters, caught unawares by the strike, said they would return home as they could not afford the sudden hike in transport fares by other commercial buses.
Mr Amusa Johnson, a civil servant, said that he was at the bus stop since 6.a.m waiting for the red buses before he later found out that they were on strike.
“Public transporters such as the “danfo” buses immediately increased their fares because of the number of commuters stranded at the bus stops,’’ Johnson said.
Mrs Omolara Akinjuyi, a trader at Idumota market, described the situation as “unfortunate and pathetic”.
Akinjuyi also said that other commercial buses took advantage of the situation to increase their fares by about 70 per cent which resulted to some people returning to their various homes.
“When I saw the magnitude of people stranded at the bus, I decided to go back home because I cannot afford the fares charged by other commercial buses,” Akinjuyi said.
Mr Alex Nwanko, an apprentice, said that he decided to go back home as the situation was unbearable.
“We have been standing here for two hours now, even the Blue buses that are on ground cannot be enough for all the passengers.
“Some passengers have been on the queue since early morning till now, waiting for the blue buses that have not gone,’’ he said.
Another commuter, Mrs Tokunbo Aladesomo, appealed to the state government to urgently find solution to the matter.
She said this would assist in easing the problems of commuters and also checking transport fares.
“We are begging the state government to come to our aid and end this situation as you know if price of anything goes up, it doesn’t come down,” she said.
At the office of the company, a senior official of LAGBUS said that the management would soon resolve the issue, adding, “ the situation is currently under control.’’
Banners with various inscriptions were displayed at the company’s premises.
Some of the banners 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.
“On-board 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”.
