COMMENT: Gen. Olanrewaju’s verdict: Danfo buses, agberos not meant for Lagos of today

WHY WE HAVE INSANITY ON LAGOS ROADS ‐–IDDO-OYINGBO AND EBUTE-META ROADS AS A CASE STUDY

1. This stretch of Road is about 700 metres in distance. It has been in use as a gateway out of the City of Lagos from the colonial period. The famous Iddo Terminus is a landmark that sits majestically displaying its old facade but begging for a refit.

You can approach this motorway through Eko Bridge and that I did. The prominent Muritala Muhammed Way and the famous nationalist, Herbert Macaulay Way, take their exits from this Motorway at Oyingbo. The greater part of this Motorway is taken up by traders displaying their wares in Iddo, Otto and Oyingbo Markets.

For lack of discipline, there are uncharted bus stops and pick up points doting along the Motorway perpetuated by the so-called yellow mass transit bus drivers and agberos controlled by MC Oluomo and NURTW.

Sharing the Motorway with motorists are pedestrian traders of all hues breaking through the traffic to advertise their products waltzing their way in-between the traffic adding to the pains of the road users.

2. I decided to use this Motorway to Surulere my destination as alternative option since other available routes had been blocked and held down surprisingly on Sunday. The cause for the hold up was put on maintenance and impatience of motorists, especially the Danfos and Agberos (ushers). On the Motorway, traders were selling their wares in clusters spilling into the road leaving little space for motorists while the danfos and their so-called handlers occupied the remaining space with careless abandon and at their own pleasure.

3. Although the Police at Oyingbo tried to keep the area safe by firing some shots into the air, the miscreants had their way by showing some acts of intimidation and deviance. I remained inside my car but my mind raced to the 2023 General Elections. I was wondering whether these street urchins, muscled streetmen and hired militia would allow people to enfranchise their way to vote freely. Time will tell but the security services must be steps ahead of this class of people, regardless of whose interests they might want to protect.

4. It is very clear from every sense of good judgement that the yellow buses offered for public transportation cannot meet the minimum best standards of road worthiness and etiquette, given the risks and danger they constitute to the public. It is as much the public expectation for the State authorities to call the park managers to order and rein their members to show civility and respect to other road users who certainly are paying taxes including insurance without being harassed in the traffic. The so-called mass transit are patently untenable as a modal system of transportation.

5. I was an eye witness and this is a journey of discovery. Danfo buses and agberos are not meant for Lagos State of today. They have gone past the peak of maintenance. The mass of these buses lack essentials for safety and security of passengers. They do not have good tyres and side mirrors that could aid good driving. If you get involved in an accident with any of these buses you become a victim without compensation. The drivers don’t get booked but waived on, lacking consideration for others. You may find many vehicles without good brakes, rear lights and adequate vehicle documentations. The licensing plates on the buses appear dirty and fading. If you are involved in an accident, most often the affected driver could disappear making investigations untenable.

6. Omoeko Pataki had once taken a frontline position in the evolution of public and private sectors on how to handle public transportation in the past in Lagos State. Those days were when public transport were clean and uniformed drivers also were under constant control of inspectors. Private entrepreneurs too were subjected to discipline and order, and not disorder. Would our local and state authorities step forward and take a ride on the roads to see the pains citizens who use public and privately registered transport go through.

7. Lagos State citizens expect changes should be sooner and if what we are getting now represent the best the state government could give to the citizens despite the huge taxes and revenues from road transportation, then the State is light years to achieving the best possible transportation outcomes for the people.

8. There is a need for a dynamic transformation in our transit system. Why not look seriously at the waterways to ease Lagos traffic in a bigger picture. The citizens need some improvement on Lagos traffic and public transport .

*Rtd Maj-Gen Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Trustee, Omoeko Pataki, Former Minister of Communications (first published in Freedomonline.com)