Commuters Decry New BRT Fares
Commuters in Lagos Friday expressed dissatisfaction over the hike in fares by the Primero Transport Services Limited, operator of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the state.
The firm resumed operation yesterday with a new fare regime, saying it had received the government’s nod for an upward review.
Indeed, the operator affirmed that the need to increase was necessary as the company is running at loss as its value chain suppliers refuses to supply due to debts.
The Managing Director of the firm, Mr Fola Tinubu, said that a trip that cost commuters N200 had been increased to N300, and that of N300 had risen to N500.
Tinubu said that the firm understood the plight of the people and the economic situation, but that the step became imperative to keep serving the commuters diligently and to provide a world-class service for them.
According to him, cost of operating the buses had increased so much that the firm is finding it difficult to survive and sustain operations, and had been piling up losses.
As opposed to the transport guidelines that mandated the operator to commute only 20 passengers per trip instead of 70, Tinubu said the company has received approval to carry 42 passengers going forward.
This he said would ease one of the challenges the company is encountering.
