Commercial bus drivers in Lagos State have failed to comply with the government’s directive to reduce transport charges by 25 per cent.
Commuters have lamented that they did not notice any reduction in prices, with fares fluctuating depending on the availability of passengers and the level of traffic.
But the bus drivers stated that slashing transport fares would negatively affect their business.
A passenger identified as Dele, who commutes from the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos State to Berger, noted that he had not noticed any reduction in transport fares.
He said: “I have not noticed the 25 per cent reduction in transport prices which was ordered by the government. It only fluctuates between certain prices depending on the availability of passengers on the road and the traffic.”
Another regular commuter, who identified himself as Hope, stated that there had been no reduction in the transport fare charged by bus operators since the announcement for the slash in transport fare was made.
However, some commercial bus drivers at some bus parks stated that slashing transport fares by 25 per cent was not realistic.
A bus driver, who simply identified himself as Adewale, lamented the hardship faced by commercial bus drivers and other motorists since the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Adewale, who conveys passengers from Berger to Oshodi, added that nothing would make him reduce his fare charges.
He said: “The cost of the tickets that they are selling to us is still high. I heard the cost has been slashed in some parks but it has not reached here. It may be reduced here later. Even if they reduce it, does it mean anything?
“If there is something that needs to be reduced, let us go to the filling stations. It is from there that the matter can be settled. Reduction in ticket prices cannot make me reduce my bus fare. If they make the reduction of transport fares compulsory, I will just park my vehicle”.
Another Lagos driver, who refused to mention his name but preferred to be called Pastor, said: “We want the government to know that this is untold hardship on the people. If it is not affecting anybody, it is affecting drivers too.
“I work all day long and at the end of the day, I go home with peanuts because the price of fuel and the cost of living has really increased.
“It is not the bus park union that is maintaining my car. So, they cannot do much to help the situation. The tyre we used to buy for N6,000 is now N13,000. The engine oil we buy for N3,500 is N8,000″.
However, another driver, Yaro, who loads passengers from Berger to Ikosi, noted that he had reduced his transport fare even before the Lagos State Government’s directive because the number of passengers had gone down.
Source: Saturday PUNCH
