LAGOS COMMUTERS GROANS AS COMMERICAL DRIVERS INCREASES FARES ARBITRARILY

Village Square Reports 

INCESSANT TRANSPORT FARE INCREASE IN LAGOS 

Lagos residents are on daily basis facing challenges as the cost of living is soaring higher than expected and means of sourcing daily bread is been fractured by the transporters with arbitrary increases in transport fares. During the surgent of covid-19 that transport fare was increased which was understandable by the people but since the battle was declared over by the government commercial drivers refused to revert to old fares but engaged in transport fare at will.

 Investigation at some designated parks across Lagos revealed that drivers and touts at parks arbitrarily increase transport fares especially when there was traffic on any route, most times transport fares in Lagos skyrocket in the early rush hours and the evening when people leave for their homes.

From terminal 2 and environs in Oshodi, transport fare from Oshodi- Ajar is always raised from #700-100, Oshodi -Mushin #100 to 150, and Oshodi -Oyigbo #300 to 500.

Oshodi - toll gate from #400-#800

Oshodi -iyana Liepaja from #200-300

The story is the same across Lagos state from Ajar, Badagry,  Obalende, Ikorodu, ijede, Isolo, Ejigbo, Ketu, mile 12, etc 

Another angle to this activity by the tout at the park is the oppression and threat to beat any commuters who dare their actions and make good their treat without any law enforcement to caution them, sometimes they ensure such passengers refuted trips from the park.

Some of the drivers who spoke with our correspondence under anonymity blamed Lagos state governor  Babajide Sanwo-Olu government for abdicating his responsibilities to individuals who capitalized on some lacuna to exploit the system. What has changed from the time the state government suspended  NURTW activity in the state some months ago replacing it with the state  Motor park managers? What is the revenue generation of the transport sector, accountability, and transparency? 

It has shown that not the names of associations or unions can guarantee a better transport system service that the state desired but actors in the sector need a  complete overhauling if Lagos residents are to have a good transport service system in the state.

The drivers also claimed the Lastman and task force officers are another menace which it's corruption effect reflects on the incessant transport fare increment. Commercial drivers pay many nonsense daily payments that nobody cares to challenge and it's getting worst every day any attempt by any drivers to say otherwise would lead to severe action.

Some commuters call on the Lagos state government to listen to the cries of the people and find ways through her park managers to ameliorate( if that is the only option for now ) the suffering of the people, especially at this critical period when many people are struggling to sustain their life.

 Government should play a supervisory role sometimes unannounced investigate the true pictures of the suffering of the people transport-wise. Commissioner for transport should just not sit in his comfort office and rely on the reports by the exploiters who do many things to deceive the state and the supervisory agent. There should be consequences and punishment for any commercial driver who increases transport fare at will through a call or message portal to report any erring park or driver.

Are Lagos motor park managers aware of all these issues or they are part of the conspiracy theory?