*As activities of agbero bite harder against Lagos commuter buses
By KEMI KASUMU
When asked, the bus operators blamed it on the activities of agbero, who they said cannot be arrested by police because they are working for politicians in control of Lagos.
The Lagos State Government has announced its decision to discontinue its 50 percent reduction in the fares of BRT and small buses in the state.
In a statement released by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on Tuesday, the state government said fares of state-owned buses will return to a 100 percent rate effective April 1, 2023.
Amidst fuel and cash scarcity in the buildup to general elections early last month, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced a 50 percent cut in the fares of all state-owned transport services, adding that the measure was to reduce the hardship faced by residents.
However, LAMATA on Tuesday said fares of state-owned buses will return to a 100 percent rate on April 1.
The DEFENDER reports that it was yet to be told whether the state government meant the hardship, for which it introduced the 50 percent cut as elections were coming approaching, has ceased.
“With effect from Saturday, April 1, bus fare on all regulated buses — BRT, standard and FLM — shall revert to 100 per cent rate,” the statement read.
“Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, had on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, approved a 50% slash in bus fares following the cash crunch brought about by the recent currency swap.
“Following the Supreme Court and Federal Government’s pronouncements on the use of old notes alongside the new notes and return of stability to the system, the 50% rebate is hereby discontinued.”
In the meantime, activities of agbero, which appeared to subside around the period of ruling party’s upset in the state, have resumed full blown as operators of commuters continue to shift the burden on helpless members of the public.
Our investigations had reportedly in the past blamed the hardship in Lagos on state-backed agbero’s indiscriminate taxes on transporters that distance that ordinarily should cost N100 now costs between N400 and N500 considering the salary earning of workers at the time it was N100, which remains the same and, yet, cost of transportation within the Lagos metropolis inconsiderably increased.
When asked, the bus operators blamed it on the activities of agbero, who they said cannot be arrested by police because they are working for politicians in control of Lagos.
