The Lagos Bus Services Limited
(LBSL), operator of Marcopolo high-capacity buses, said it has secured the
approval of the state government for upward review of fares and right to ply
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) dedicated lane.
The Chief Executive Officer of
LBSL, Mr Idowu Oguntona, made the announcement in a statement on Monday by Mr
Afolabi Olawale, the Public Affairs Officer of the company.
Oguntona said that the approvals
would take effect from Aug. 1.
He said that the firm had been
given approval by the state government for an average of 46 percent increase in
the transportation fare of LBSL.
The LBSL boss said: “The approval
to use the BRT corridor by the governor is to further give the commuting public
a better experience on Lagos roads.
” The increase in the number of
passengers and fare become necessary in order to enable the company to sustain
its operations following the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on
public bus transportation.
“The governor also approved
LBSL’s request to increase the number of passengers per bus from 20 to 42 in
strict observance of updated COVID-19 safety protocol as directed by the
Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the operation of public transport,
whilst ensuring all other measures are in place,” he said.
According to him, as part of
reforms ongoing in the LBSL, the government has also granted approval for the
operators of the buses to commute passengers to its full capacity without
standing.
He said that this must be done
with strict adherence to necessary safety protocols.
The managing director said that
the COVID-19 guidelines, which restricted the firm to convey not more than 20
passengers per bus, had affected the running of the buses.
He said that the development led
to 72 percent drop in revenue of the company while running costs remained
fairly the same.
Oguntona described the approval
from the governor as a long-expected desire by the agency.
According to him, news of the
approval came at such a crucial time when the commuters needed it most, thus
making bus journey times predictable on corridors with bus dedicated lanes.
He said that the decision of the
governor would further reposition the company for enhanced performance,
assuring all the stakeholders of the company of an improved operational
experience going forward.
Oguntona added that the fare
increase would improve LBSL’s operational efficiency and place the company on
the path of sustainability in the long term.
According to him, the permission
granted by the governor now gives access to LBSL buses to use the dedicated BRT
corridor from Berger through Ikorodu Road to Leventis, TBS, and Obalende and
also from Oshodi through Ikorodu Road to Leventis, Inner- Marina, TBS and Obalende
among several other routes.
He commended the gesture of Gov.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu for listening to the yearnings of Lagosians when it mattered
most by allowing LBSL to ply BRT lane.
Oguntona also appreciated the
efforts of the Ministry of Transportation as well as the Lagos State
Metropolitan Area Transport Authority ( LAMATA) for their relentless efforts in
moving the company forward.
He assured Lagos residents that
the company would continue to strive harder to bring public transportation in
Lagos State to a reputable standard.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com