Some commuters in Lagos on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the proposed increase of fares by Primero Transport Services Limited, operator of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the state.
The operator had on Tuesday announced its plan to increase fares across all routes in the state to meet up with current realities.
Primero’s managing director, Fola Tinubu, said the cost of operating the buses have increased so much that the firm is finding it difficult to sustain operations.
Several commuters expressed their angst towards the proposed increase with newsmen.
Bose Ogbonne, an online marketer, said: “It does not make sense at all. People use BRT because it is cheap. We wait for long, queuing up for buses to arrive also. So, if there is no significant difference between the BRT and commercial buses’ fare, we will not wait for them again.
“If we are in a hurry, instead of waiting for BRT and even preferring standing, that will not happen again. They (BRT operators) should think well before doing so.”
Ogbonne spoke with newsmen at Costain, urging the state government to intervene quickly so as not to increase the hardship of the poor masses resident in Lagos.
A student, Mr Michael Ajayi, said the government should not allow such proposed increase in BRT fares to scale through in the interest of the masses.
“Why do they want to increase the fares now? This is not good. It will affect us. It will affect our pockets,” he said.
Janet Daniel, a teacher, said that since government had failed to alleviate poverty, it should not compound the suffering of people with the fare increase.
A cleric, Mr Olanrewaju Dunmiju, said that those in the position of authority should also think of the people and their welfare.
“I will advise the government to think over this and support the operators if they are finding it difficult to operate with the current fares,” he said.
