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Tag: buses

  • Palliative: Alia hands over 100 buses to Benue transport  firm

    Palliative: Alia hands over 100 buses to Benue transport  firm

    Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, yesterday handed over 100 Hiace buses to Benue Links Transport Company, the state owned transport company, to ease the challenge of transportation amongst travellers in the state occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.

    The Governor who described the occasion as a proud moment for his administration said, the supply of the buses to the company is in fulfilment of his earlier promise to the good people of the state, to provide vehicles that would move passengers and their goods at cheaper rates.

    Read Also: Healthcare delivery: FG seeks private sector help to bridge procurement funding gap

    While describing transportation as a necessity in contemporary life, Governor Alia charged the management of the company to ensure professionalism with the drivers, open more routes and drop the transportation fares for interested passengers to ensure the good people of the state enjoy better traveling experiences, especially as the Yuletide approaches.

    He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for introducing palliatives from which states can choose to address the peculiar needs of their people, adding that the government will provide more vehicles as soon as the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses are rolled out for use.

  • Ambode: 5,000 buses coming in February

    Ambode: 5,000 buses coming in February

    The first set of 5000 brand new buses under the Lagos State Government’s Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) will be launched in six months, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday said.

    Ambode, who spoke when students of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, United States (US), visited him at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said his administration would revolutionise transportation and improve the way 23 million Lagosians commute daily.

    The introduction of the buses, he said, would be his administration’s first step in changing the existing transportation system predominantly driven by the yellow buses, popularly known as danfo.

    He said: “In the last one year, we have decided that we must integrate rail, road water and air transportation in such a way that the system of connectivity is improved upon and I would like to have a direct partnership on how that can actually be actualised.

    “Right now we are cleaning out all the yellow buses you see in the State. As we proceed in the next six months and a span of three years, we are introducing 5000 new buses of European standard to actually clean up the city because if you want to grow the economy of Lagos, transportation is key and then it is a major infrastructure for tourism itself.”

    Ambode said the dependence on road in the last two decades as the major means of transportation has given rise to a chaotic system where about eight million Lagosians commute across the state every minute.

    He said: “The question is how do you move 23 million people on a daily basis from point A to point B with ease and comfort? So the way the city has been so designed in the last few years, the city has actually concentrated on only one mode of transportation, which is road transportation. There has not been any comprehensive planning to integrate all the modes of transportation in a way that makes it easy.

    “There are eight million people walking on the streets of Lagos every minute, did we create more points for them? The answer is no. We have one-fifth of the state on water, are we doing effective water transportation? The answer is no. The rail system is still under construction in such a way that it can move mass number of people from one point to another. That is why we have a whole lot of congestion on the road.”

    Besides, the governor noted that water transportation reforms were ongoing, adding that this was being done to encourage residents to utilise it as an alternative means of transportation.

    He listed urban migration as one of the major challenges his administration was contending. About 86 persons, he said, entered Lagos daily any plan to go back.

    The consequence of such migration, he said, was evident on the healthcare system and the 13,000 tonnes of waste generated daily. His administration would continue to think outside the box to solve such infrastructural challenges.

    “People fly in from Ghana to come and use our hospitals here in Lagos. So we now have to sit down beyond what we have learnt in school to look at the practical challenges of urban migration and good governance and things we have to mitigate against a population that is unaccounted for,” Ambode said.

  • ‘Use refuse basket in buses’

    The Lagos State Government has urged commercial bus operators to embrace usage of refuse basket in their buses.

    Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) General Manager Rasheed Shabi said the possession of basket was in line with the environmental policy of Lagos.

    Shabi stated that it had become an offence to throw anything outside from vehicles on the road.

    He added that indiscriminate dispose of waste now attracted punishment of fine or jail sentence or both.

  • ‘Local assembly of BRT buses may begin Sept’

    ‘Local assembly of BRT buses may begin Sept’

    Local assembly of Yutong buses may begin in September, Mr. Fola Tinubu  Managing Director of Blue Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) franchise operator – Primero Transit Service Limited, has said.

    Yutong buses, which are manufactured in China, are being used by the BRT operator on the Ikorodu-CMS route. Tinubu said his company was targeting the West African market with the vehicles.

    He, however, did not state whether the company would be able to assemble the Euro 4 buses, which use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), as obtained around the world.

    Speaking while conducting Trade Union Congress (TUC) leaders  round the company’s facility at Majidun-Ikorodu, Tinubu said the company would begin initial assembly at the Leyland Manufacturing plant in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    He said the plan is to take-off at Ibadan in September, while the company hastens  work on its own plant which would be in Badagry, Lagos State. He said full operation would begin at the company’s assembly plant in the last quarter of 2019.

    “Though our plan is to establish an assembly plant around Badagry, but since this will take a fairly longer time and we are committed to beginning assembly this year, we will commence from the Leyland Motors premises at Ibadan, from where we would be assembling the buses pending when we would be able to roll out from our facility,” Tinubu said.

    Besides,  Tinubu said the company would by third quarter of this year introduce e-ticket on all its routes to reduce.

  • Lagos eyes N100b bond for buses to replace Danfo

    Lagos eyes N100b bond for buses to replace Danfo

    Lagos State Government plans to raise about N100 billion bonds for its proposed Bus Reform Initiative (BRI), Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said.

    The bonds will span between seven and 10 years.

    About N30 billion sinking fund has been set aside for its take off, he told reporters during an interview.

    The BRI, he said, was aimed at providing an alternative for Lagosians to commute daily.

    Under the three-year initiative, over 5,000 air-conditioned buses will replace the Danfo, which according to him, was no longer befitting for the state’s mega city status.

    “We decided that the best thing is to allow the yellow buses (Danfo) to go and so the BRI itself is a three-year plan of 2017 to 2019 under which 5,000 units of new buses will be brought in.

    “The bigger size buses will take 70 people and then the medium range buses will take 30 people. We believe that the middle range buses will be supplied up to 70 per cent of the total volume which will amount to about 3,600 units and then the longer range in that direction,” he said.

    The governor stated: “You are aware that the Federal Government paid the refund of the Paris Club Loan last December and this is money belonging to the state governments. So, Lagos State decided not to touch its share of the Paris Club refund. Right now, we have a sinking fund of N14.5billion that is already put in place to drive this public transportation bond.

    “We refused to touch our money and we believe that the second batch of the refund should be paid next month and eventually that will be N29billion that we will have. I will add another N1billion to it making it N30billion to kick-start this initiative.

    “By the time we have N30billion as sinking fund to drive the bus initiative against the bond of N100billion that we want to put into the market, there will be that credibility and credence that the bond will drive itself and that is the whole idea.”

    His administration, Ambode said, would give out franchise to interested stakeholders in multiple of 50 buses, 100 buses and 200 buses each, explaining that what is required is a 25 per cent down payment.

    “So, these are bankable projects as we have a sinking fund and so our exposure as a government is just technically 75 per cent. So, from the kind of machinery we want to use to run the buses, there are no cash takings, everything is automated and obviously, whoever has a franchise, whoever drives, they have the recourse to take part of the money while part of the intake also goes to the repayment of the facility and so it is a comprehensive template,” he said.

  • Hike in diesel price takes a hit at El-Rufai buses

    Love him or loathe him, Malam Nasir el-Rufai brought some relief to FCT residents before he left office as minister of the territory. El-Rufai, now governor of Kaduna State, introduced what is fondly called the El-Rufai buses. They are cheap, neat and air-conditioned.

    People who could not cope with costly petrol preferred them to their personal vehicles. But there is a problem: the buses are fast disappearing. Why? Diesel used in running them is also becoming too costly.

    The buses were commissioned in 2005 to provide subsidised services to residents of the FCT. Managed by a Transport company called Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO) and the buses are co-owned by some private investors.

    Interestingly, the high capacity buses owned by government are clearly marked while those of the private investors are not so marked, except a few of them belonging to Trade Unions and a few other agencies.

    These buses are usually stationed in different parts of the FCT to ferry passengers to their destination from such places like Gwagwalada, Zuba, Kubwa, Berger, Nyanya, Madalla among others.

    People who live as far as Suleja, Niger State or Nyanya in Nasarawa State but work in the FCT prefer commuting with these buses because of the belief that buses are cheaper and more comfortable.

    Some residents who use these buses told Abuja Review that they choose them because they are highly subsidised and cost them between N50 and N100 to get to their destination depending on the distance while the cabs would take them for at least N200 or N250.

    Asiwaju Williams, a resident of Madalla who patronized the buses told Abuja Review that he prefers using the buses every morning.

    He said, “I come all the way from Madalla in Niger State to Wuse every morning using the ‘El-Rufai’ bus. I prefer these buses because they are usually air-conditioned.

    “There are strict regulations about hawking goods and services, preaching and overcrowding compared to the private owned buses. Their drivers are well-dressed and they operate in a co-ordinated manner.”

    On the other hand, Awodele Oladele, a National Youth Service Corps member resident in Abaji on the border between the FCT and Kogi State, said the buses are usually a big relief considering the high cost of living in the FCT.

    However, the buses have begun to gradually disappear from the road and residents are not finding it funny. Sometimes, the buses are parked at the bus stop without the drivers, while the people wait endlessly.

    A car dealer who identified himself as Okon Chukwuemeka is at a loss as to why several of the buses are parked, leaving the people stranded. Investigation however revealed that this may not be unconnected with the increase in the cost of running them.

    The Head of Marketing and Communications of AUMTCO, Mr. Tunde Akintola attributed this to the increase in the price of diesel and the unchanged bus fare despite the hike.

    “The rise in price of diesel has been an issue of serious concern to the organisation. When we were buying diesel for N 125, we were charging N50 and N100 for the bus fare and now that it is N270 we are still charging at the same price and practically, we are running at a loss,” he said.

    Akintola added that the only option the company had to keep their services running is to cut down on the buses used to convey passengers. He however suggested that the bus fare should be increased in a manner that would be fair to the people and the company.

    Some residents who spoke with the reporter believe that the FCT administration can address the situation by introducing some low profile vehicles to ply some of the routes that the buses cannot ply.

    Damilola Comfort advised that they could delegate low capacity buses within the federal capital such that they could take over the routes ‘Keke-Napep and Okada’ are found and also maintain the buses used for far distance commutation of residents.

    In so doing, it would generate more profit for the organization and provide better safety for Abuja inhabitants by reducing road deaths when ‘Keke-Napep and Okada’ are off the road.

    Also, Ibrahim Wahab said, “The Transport Company should look for a way to have negotiation or make arrangements with oil companies to reduce the price of diesel even as the company re- employs the parked buses found at their location.”

     

  • Lagos monarchs condemn destruction of 48 BRT buses

    Monarchs from Ikorodu have visited the Majidun, Lagos office of Primero Transport Services to express their sympathy over the destruction of 48 Blue BRT buses by hoodlums in Maryland.

    Led by the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kamoru Sotobi, the monarchs among who were the Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro and eight others, called on Lagosians to eschew violence and resist taking the laws into their hands.

    They bemoaned the unwarranted attack against buses, which they said had relieved transportation challenges facing their people since they began to service the route six months ago.

    Oba Agoro, who spoke on behalf of other monarchs, said they were saddened by the level of carnage meted on the franchisee, adding that the destruction of 48 buses was one too much.

    He prayed that God would grant the company the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Oba Agoro said the monarchs visited the company to verify whether the 48 buses were damaged by hoodlums, adding that they were extremely sad because of its effect on commuters.

    He said: “This is the first major incident that has serious impact on commuters on the route and we only pray to God almighty to grant the company the capacity to repair these buses on time in order to enable them put them (the buses) back on the road. We sympathise with the franchisee.”

    He said it could have been more beneficial, if the N193 million that would be used to repair the  buses had been pushed into purchasing more buses to provide services to the people of the area.

    Primero Transport Service Managing Director Mr. Fola Tinubu praised the monarchs for identifying with the company in its time of trial.

    Tinubu, who thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the support he has enjoyed since the incident happened, said the governor has promised to come to the company’s aid.

    He said: “The violence has rendered 10 per cent of our buses immobile by our last assessment. It would take no less than two weeks to complete the repairs of the buses.”

    He said 15 suspects have so far been arrested and the police were  investigating the matter.

  • QC PTA donates hostel, buses worth over N300m

    The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Queen’s College (QC), Yaba, has donated a 600-capacity hostel, a 30-seater coaster bus and two Hiace buses to the school.

    Its chairman, Mrs Beatrice Akhetuamen put the cost of the hostel at N289 million, and the three vehicles, N19, 450, 000.

    Mrs Akhetuamen said the hostel, which also boasts of a dining hall, was donated to de-congest the existing hostels in the school. She said it would be inhabited by JSS 1 pupils of the school.

    She disclosed that the need for the project arose four years ago when the college delisted some girls including her two daughters from the boarding house because of lack of space. The development prompted her predecessor Alhaji Farouk Magaji to step in with the initiative.

    “I want to let everyone here know that this project was 100 per cent funded by parents. Every parent of this school paid N10,000 per term for the past four years for the actualisation of this project. There was no support from elsewhere, not even from corporate bodies,” Akhetuamen said.

    Although it was initially planned for 32 weeks, Mrs Akhetuamen said the project eventually dragged over four years owing to paucity of funds,

    She said the buses were bought from the excess of funds raised for the hostel and would serve as shuttle vehicles for day students.

    Principal of the College, Dr Lami Amodu, promised that the hostels and the buses would be well maintained.  She thanked the parents for their kind gesture and commitment and urged them to continue with their good work at the school.

    Head girl of the school, Angel Tony-Ativie described the project as a relief to pupils.

    “This is a laudable project and we are very grateful to our parents who looked into our needs and provided it too. It is a big relief that the JSS 1 students would henceforth move into it which means that the other hostels will be greatly decongested,” she said.

     

  • New buses for FUTO staff

    New buses for FUTO staff

    Transportation challenges at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) are easing as the institution has flagged off six 57-seater buses for its staff.

    The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Chigozie Asiabaka inaugurated the vehicles.

    Prof Asiabaka said the buses will convey members of staff from their homes in any part of the state to the school every day.

    He said this will save them the huge cost of fuelling and maintaining their private cars, which they hitherto overuse to meet the ever increasing demands of their job.

    While commissioning the buses, the VC noted that were purchased with funds from the Special Intervention of Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND), adding that delivery of the buses were taken some months ago.

    He said that the drivers who will operate the vehicles have been given months of rigorous training to ensure that they are adequately prepared for the job, considering the safety of the members of staff.

    According to him, two additional buses of the same capacity will arrive soon to add to the fleet.

    He disclosed that the buses will take off at designated points at an agreed time every morning to ensure that workers to their offices on time.

    He however said that little fares will be charged for the fuelling and maintenance of the buses.

    Speaking at the event, the Director of Physical Planning Development of the institution, Ago Chikwendu, an Architect, said the drivers were taught the operation technique of the buses during the months of training.

    He disclosed that the buses were air-conditioned for the convenience of all the categories of staffers, staff of the university who struggle to come to work every day either on their own private vehicles or public ones, will certainly heave sigh of relief when the buses become fully operational.”

     

  • Two injured, three buses burnt in tanker fire

    Two injured, three buses burnt in tanker fire

    Residents of Babalosa in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos woke up abruptly on Tuesday midnight as the shout of fire rent the air.

    A tanker laden with 30,000 litres of fuel fell behind the popular Awolowo Market, spilling its content.

    Two persons, including the tanker driver were injured. Three buses burnt.

    Many trooped out with various liquid substances to put out the fire.

    The Nation learnt that Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area Executive Secretary Rasaq Ajala, who was among the people that came to the scene called the Lagos State Fire Fighters. He was joined by a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Mushin Constituency, Olayiwola Olawale, few minutes past 1am.

    The injured tanker driver immediately fled the scene.

    An eyewitness, Emmanuel Okeke, said the driver was over speeding without taking cognisance of the deep potholes along the road.

    According to Okeke, the incident happened at 12 midnight.

    He wondered how the driver could be speeding knowing that the road is riddled with potholes .

    Another eyewitness, Ademola Adegoke said: “The tanker driver escaped through smashed windscreen and sustained injuries. When the fire started around midnight. We alerted the residents in the neighbourhood  and also called the fire station for help. The fire fighters arrived the scene around 1am. The buses were given out to the owners on higher purchase. Government intervention is urgently needed on this road.

    “This market would have been burnt to ashes if not for the timely intervention of  street boys. We, the street boys were the ones that tried to subdue the fire before the arrival of the fire fighters.”

    Okeke commended the prompt response of men of the fire fighters.

    “The Lagos State Fire Service really tried their best in quenching the fire. It was after three hours that they were able to put out the fire but they really tried to save lives and property from the fire,” he said.

    A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “We were unable to sleep since the incident happened because the fire started in front of our house and there is a filling station beside our house. A trader was frying something beside the road when the tanker fell; it’s likely that the fire ignited the spilled fuel.”

    She urged government to ban roadside traders at midnight to ensure safety of lives and property.

    The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Micheal Akindele, applauded the Divisional Police Officers of Mushin and Idi-Oro for providing adequate security while the fire lasted.

    He said: “We arrived the scene 10 minutes after getting the alert. Aside the policemen, officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) were also at the scene to assist.

    “We are now in the process of cleaning the drainage to forestall further ignition. I must also commend Ajala and Olawale for their prompt arrival at the scene. The street boys in this area have been cooperative. This is what we say about democracy. It is good for participatory development. It is a wonderful cooperation among all towards emergency response. Thank God no life was lost.”

    “We were unable to sleep since the incident happened because the fire started in front of our house and there is a filling station beside our house. A trader was frying something beside the road when the tanker fell…”

    The owner of one of the burnt commercial buses, Saheed, said he bought the bus not quite long.

    He said: “I have not concluded the payment of the bus. It was given to me on higher purchase. The balance to be paid is N600,000 and it will be due by December. Where will I get money to offset the balance? I have called the person that leased the vehicle to me to come and see the damage done to the bus. The bus registration number is APP 859 LJ.”

    Another owner Saheed (a.k.a Sanjay), urged the police to help fish out the tanker driver so as to get compensation for their loss.

    Amid tears, Joshua John, the owner of the third bus,  said that he still have N1.5 million to balance on the bus. He sustained injury on his left arm while trying to salvage his bus.

    Residents, however, attributed the incessant accident at Babalosa to the bad portions on the road.

    They pleaded with government to fix the road.

    “An accident occurred at this spot three months ago which claimed some lives. This road is in a deplorable state, we need urgent government’s intervention. The continuous dumping of stones on this road is among the causes of the accident. The road has been in a deplorable state under Fashola’s administration,” one of them told The Nation.

    The Nation learnt that a member of the House of Representatives Dauda Kako-Are has promised to assist the owners of the buses.