Passengers In Lagos Stranded As Fuel Suppliers Stop Service To BRT Buses

Hundred of passengers heading to their numerous workplaces on Lagos Island utilizing the Lagos Bus Speedy Transit (BRT) initiative have been on Thursday stranded over a shortage of buses attributable to the scarcity of gas provide for operating of the bus.

The shortage which minimize throughout the routes operated by the BRT buses was most pronounced on the Abule -Egba – Obalende route.

On the Sbule-Egba BRT park, many BRT buses beneath Primero, one of many franchise holders operating the initiative, have been seen parked with no driver inside them.

Based on a few of the passengers, the BRT buses that have been parked had no gas in them. A cross-section of the passengers who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune defined that the state of affairs has been on since Tuesday.

“Now we have been discovering it troublesome to get BRT buses to CMS and Obalende since on Tuesday. We heard that these buses which are parked right here with out drivers don’t have gas in them as a result of their homeowners are owing their gas suppliers, who in flip minimize off gas provide to the buses.

“it’s unlucky that this new initiative is already experiencing hitches. How lengthy will this persist? Solely God is aware of,” a few of the passengers advised the Nigerian Tribune.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Lagos Metropolitan Space Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mr Kolawole Ojelabi confirmed that one of many service suppliers, Primero is owing gas suppliers.

In his phrases, “The authority is working in the direction of offering buses to fill the hole created by Primero.

“This has been on since Tuesday. Resulting from points with its gas suppliers, some BRT buses operated by Primero don’t have gas provide. Primero runs a sizeable variety of BRT buses, and that’s the reason the shortage of gas provide to their buses is affecting commuters.

“Now we have nevertheless despatched another buses managed by different franchise holders to fill within the hole. The problem ought to be resolved quickly.”

Recall that the Lagos State authorities had in August 2020 launched the 13.68km Oshodi-Abule Egba Bus Speedy Transit (BRT) hall supervised by LAMATA. Till now, the initiative had introduced a breath of recent air to intra-state motion inside the state.