Jare Babatunde
The Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL) has commenced operations on the Ikorodu, TBS routes in the state which has been under the monopoly of the Primero Transport Service Limited.
The management of Primero had stated in a statement on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, that it will be suspending its services on the routes due to operational challenges.
Residents that spoke with our reporter on Wednesday (yesterday) welcomed the operations of LAGBUS, owned by the Lagos Bus Services Limited, stating that the development which will bring healthy competition with Primero.
According to the statement by Mr Mutiu Yekeen, Head, Corporate Communications of Primero Transport Services Ltd, he said that the firm would be shutting down operations from March 31, due to operational challenges.
The company also said that it hopes to return back to business in a matter of days for full operations.
According to the report gathered by IMPACT Newspaper, Primero has faced several challenges in its operations on the affected corridors and found it difficult providing adequate services to residents plying the routes while protests by its drivers over lack of salaries and welfare packages also affected services on some occasions.
There had also been occasions when the company failed to operate due to lack of fuel to power their buses, leaving passengers to bearing the brunt and at the mercy of the danfo drivers.
THE IMPACT gathered that many residents were stranded yesterday, especially at Oshodi where passengers were said to have waited till late night due to unavailability of BRT buses.
It was alleged that passengers were told last night that there was no BRT bus to convey them back home.
We gathered that the passengers showed their grievances by blocking the terminal to prevent LAGBUS busses from operating, a situation which prompted LAGBUS management to make arrangement for some of their buses to convey the lkorodu-bound passengers to resolve the embarrassing situation.
This ugly incident has made the affected passengers to urge the government to break the monopoly by Primero along the Ikorodu and TBS routes by allowing LBSL buses to ply the same road and engender healthy competition.
They expressed their frustrations over constant suspension of services, inadequate buses and lack of good management by Primero which they said are making passengers to be unnecessarily stranded in their various terminals.
Hameed Anifowoshe, a resident of Ikorodu, said that LBSL should be allowed to operate on all routes to challenge Primero and bring about healthy competition.
“We have not been having good experience with Primero’s BRT. Our expectations have continually been dashed without any effort on their parts to improve their services”, he said.
“It was a terrible situation yesterday and I never prayed to experience such again. We want Primero monopoly to be broken because the company is not serving the people again. Let’s have LAGBUS too plying Ikorodu route”, he demanded.
Mrs Oluwatoyin Shodipe, said that the suspension of services by Primero is a welcome development.
“It is a welcome development for us passengers because it is time for another operator to come and challenge them”, she said.
“They (Primero) are too comfortable because they are the only one operating from Ikorodu. We suffer a lot to board their busses and it was always hell returning home.
“LAGBUS coming would raise the bar and make Primero sit – up if they ever return for operation”, she told our reporter.
A government worker, who simply identified himself as Hakeem, also welcomed the LAGBUS to compete with BRT buses to bring more satisfaction to commuters.
He stated that there is need for more buses to meet up with huge traffic on Ikororu routes.
“Sincerely, Primero alone cannot serve our people in Ikorodu with a huge population than any other part of the state. We need another company like LAGBUS while others should also be allowed to do business on the BRT corridor.
“There is a need for more buses and effective services and Primero alone cannot do this”, he added.
Meanwhile, THE IMPACT gathered that the suspension of service by Primero is due to the demands by their drivers and staff that their salaries must be paid before the business is handed over to LAMATA.
It was gathered that LAMATA has written a formal letter to Primero to hand over the busses back to LAMATA as its 10years contract has elapsed.
Attempts to reach Primero for reaction over the development proved abortive as calls made to their contact mobile phone numbers numbers (+234 708 060 1787, +234 708 060 1788) on their site were not picked while mail sent to: [email protected] was not responded to as at the time of filing this report.
