Fuel scarcity increases overcrowding

The current fuel scarcity in Lagos has increased overcrowding of commuters at the bus stops of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and LAGBUS.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the scarcity resulted in about 100 percent increase in transport fares charged by commercial buses.

This forced more commuters to opt for BRT and LAGBUS services.

BRT and LAGBUS are operated by the Lagos State Government. Their fares were not increased.

Some commuters now have to stand inside the luxury buses to be able to go to or return from work.

Some commuters, who spoke to NAN at various BRT and LAGBUS bus stops, said that they opted for the buses to avoid spending much on transportation.

Mr Shina Atolagbe said: "Everybody will want to save money. I am here because yellow (commercial) buses are scarce and their fares high."

Another commuter, Miss Bola Fasanya, also said that she decided to go for LAGBUS because of the high fares charged by the few available commercial buses.

"It takes stamina to struggle to enter commercial buses. If you are not very strong, don't go near nowadays, particularly in the rushing hours," he said.

An apprentice on the Iyana- Ipaja- Ikeja route, Mr Fredrick Obiora, said: "I will not mind to stand; it is not easy to get into commercial buses."

Obiora urged that the BRT and LAGBUS should increase their services to meet commuters' needs.

A civil servant, Mr Adeyemi Akinronbi, said that increase in transport fares made many commuters to prefer LAGBUS services.

A commuter on the Mile 12-CMS route, Alhaja Iyabo Ibrahim, told NAN he had left his car at home.

"I left my car at home to patronise BRT because of fuel scarcity, although the long queue here is a cause for concern."

Ibrahim noted that more passengers were standing inside the luxury buses than those sitting, expressing the worry that this resulted in poor ventilation.

Another commuter on the same route, who gave her name simply as Mrs Alonge, said it is "just like 'molue' because passengers who are standing are more than those sitting".

A LAGBUS captain, who preferred anonymity, said that the fuel scarcity resulted in increased number of commuters at LAGBUS bus stops.

NAN reports that fuel scarcity hit the commercial centre in February due to alleged hoarding by marketers.