The Primero Transport Services Limited, operators of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Lagos has attributed the recent skeletal operations on its Ikorodu-TBS route to the high cost of diesel.
The transport company, who pointed out that the skeletal operations would run for 3 days, however, said that they hope to resume full operations by Tuesday, March 29.
This disclosure is contained in a statement issued by the Managing Director of Primero, Fola Tinubu, on Saturday in Lagos and can be seen on the firm’s official Twitter handle.
What the Managing Director of Primero Transport Services is saying
Tinubu in the statement said that the transport firm is currently running at a huge loss as the price of diesel has gone up by over 200%, while there has not been any increase in transport fares or assistance from the government.
He said, “Due to the recent spike in diesel prices across the country, Primero Transport Services, operator of Blue BRT from Ikorodu to TBS, use this medium to inform our commuters that there will be skeletal operations from March 26 to March 28.
“We will resume operations fully on Tuesday, March 29.
“We are currently running at a huge loss. The diesel price has gone up by over 200 per cent while there has not been an increase in fares or intervention from the government. We are struggling right now.”
“We call on our esteemed commuters to bear with us at this period. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
” Our priority is to convey commuters safely to their destinations – providing affordable, fast, and convenient services to Lagos residents.’’
What you should know
- The Lagos Bus Rapid Transit System, also known as Lagos BRT, is a bus rapid transit system in Lagos State. It is regulated by LAMATA and is currently operated by Primero Transport Services Limited.
- Nigeria has been witnessing a huge increase in the price of diesel in the past weeks, which has negatively been impacting on businesses, already made worse by the current energy crisis.
Good for them! No private business should be running at a loss due to the government’s boneheaded policies.
In a nation where probably less than 10% of the population (about 20 million people, if we are to believe the population “estimates”) own private passenger cars, and governments (FG, state and LG) are probably the biggest car-owning segment, the government nonetheless uses trillions of Naira (about N3 trillion proposed this year) to “subsidize” PMS consumption (more than the capital budget of education, healthcare and agriculture COMBINED), while the products that most directly impacts the masses – kerosene and diesel (as well as aviation fuel, which impacts upon air cargo) – are NOT subsidized and deregulated. What a country! SMH
What have we done to Lagos State Government and Lagos Blue BRT Management in ETI-OSA AND IBEJU LEKKI axis.
No single BRT Bus plying these axis, passengerrs left to serious hardship, exploitation and surfering in the hand of commercial bus drivers who charges exorbitant prices for bus fares from Lakowe, Mayfair,Eputu to Ajah and CMS N500 & N800 respectfully with five passengers on a seat meant for 4 people.
Government and Management of this BRT Bus Company need to come to our aid on urgent basis with deployment of mass transit buses in our corridors here.