Commuters seek more BRT buses

Agency Reporter

AS the restriction on operations of motorcycles and tricycles bites harder in Lagos, commuters in Alimosho have appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to increase BRT buses deployed in Iyana-Ipaja and Ikeja axis.

Some commuters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Iyana-Ipaja and Iyana-Dopemu yesterday that the restriction on motorcycles in the area had brought them hardship.

They said the development has also increased gridlock along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway rather than reduce it, with many resorting to trekking long distances.

A correspondent of NAN, who monitored the area in the morning, observed scores of commuters at Iyana-Ipaja and Iyana-Dopemu waiting to board vehicles to their destinations.

NAN also noticed a long queue of commuters at Iyana-Dopemu waiting for the buses of the Lagos Bus Service Limited (LBSL).

An engineer, Mr. Ayo Alade, told NAN that the only way of relieving the plight of commuters in the area was speedy completion of Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT corridors and deployment of more buses in the area.

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“Tell Governor Sanwo-Olu that those of us living at Iyana-Ipaja were suffering even before the ban on Okada on this road. Now that Okada has been banned, the suffering has been too much since Monday as you can see.

“The government should have waited till the completion of this BRT corridor; we are not finding it easy at all. Traffic has been bad since Monday, a lot of productive hours are spent looking for buses and in gridlock,” Alade said.

Mr. Kayode Sunday, who lives at Ayobo and works at Costain, urged the government to increase the number of BRT buses on the corridor to bring succour to the people.

Sunday, who decried the fare hike by commercial bus operators, said that he had queued for close to an hour for BRT bus at Iyana-Dopemu area and still waiting.

He urged the government to checkmate the excesses and over zealousness of some security agents, alleging that they were arresting motorcycle riders and tricycle operators even in the streets at Ayobo.