More than three weeks after Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, approved the increase in BRT bus fares, commuters are still complaining about the reduced number of buses available despite an increase of N100, on all BRT routes, in a context of deteriorating standards.
The new fares come into effect on July 13, 2022. The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) had explained that the decision to increase bus fares is due to the rising cost of fuel (diesel) and lack of parts parts to replace damaged components of certain buses.
BRT fare from Ikorodu to TBS now costs N600 from the old N500, from Berger to Ajah now costs N700 from N600, from Oshodi to Abule-Egba now costs N450 from N350, and from Abule -Egba, CMS-Obalende now costs N600. BusinessDay findings show that the new fares are almost the same as danfo buses, Ikorodu-Constain also costs N600 for danfo buses, Ikorodu-Maryland-Fadeyi costs N400, Oshodi to Abule-Egba costs N300.
Alade Esther at Ikorodu Terminal said that in addition to the long queue waiting for the bus to arrive, the operator’s code of conduct is unattractive and rude, and sometimes when you tap your card, they subtract the fare beyond your actual destination. rate.
“If someone was traveling in the same direction as you and using danfo, they would have arrived at their destination before you did,” Esther said.
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Enitan Olajire, another commuter, described the fare increase as upsetting to her due to the state of the economy. The goal of BRT, she says, is to make it accessible to the general public, so it defeats that purpose if they keep raising the price. She also added that the BRT is sometimes overcrowded, producing tension between commuters and that bus conditions are now less comfortable.
“The air conditioning is not on anymore, and no matter how much you complain to the drivers, nothing is done about it. I feel like I should be enjoying what I am paying for,” said Olajire “For the price they charge, no more air conditioning, the only advantage they have is the special lane that beats rush hour traffic.”
The commuter that their cost is higher compared to danfos, except in the evenings when there will be traffic and there are not always enough BRT buses, which means that commuters have to wait for some time before to take a bus. This commuter navigates using danfo in the morning and BRT in the evening.
Prior to the implementation of the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, 18-seater minibuses and Molues were used, which were used to carry 44 to 50 passengers each way. Although only intended to carry 50 people, mole buses are sometimes used to carry nearly 100 people, many of whom are packed tightly together. Those without a seat are often squeezed in the aisle or hung at the door. When the molds were gradually removed from the roads and minibuses became more widespread, the poor conditions remained the same.
This will be the second time in the past two years that the BRT fare has increased; the previous increase was 46%. According to reports, the spike was caused by the pandemic, due to compliance with the rule that buses should only carry 20 passengers per bus.
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