Passengers Lament As Lagos Drivers, Louts Raise Fares

 By Ayodele Ifasakin 

Passengers travelling into Ogun State from various parts of Lagos State were stranded on Sunday as levy collectors, commonly known as Agberos (louts), hiked transport fares at the Berger Bus Stop.

Passengers Lament As Lagos Drivers, Louts Raise Fares

A PUNCH Metro correspondent who monitored activities at the bus shed on Sunday observed that the agberos were informing incoming drivers from Lagos, who parked to pick up passengers heading to Arepo, Magboro, Ibafo, and Mowe in Ogun State, of the new fare prices.

Passengers, including worshippers and children returning from church, were seen stranded, pleading with drivers to reduce the transport fares.

Our correspondent observed that drivers charged commuters travelling to Mowe a flat fare of up to N1000, regardless of whether passengers intended to alight at any of the stops along the route.

The previous fare prices from the bus stop to the mentioned areas were N300, N400, and N500. However, when our correspondent arrived at the park around 3:00 pm on Sunday, drivers charged up to N1000 for the same journey.

A passenger named Adewale, heading to Arepo, had refused to board a bus charging N700 to Mowe, but was left in shock when the fare was further raised to N1000.

However, he lamented that after the vehicle departed, subsequent buses were instructed by the agberos to start charging N1000 for the trip.

“I was here when they charged N700 for any stop on the way to Mowe and Ibafo. I didn’t board because I thought the agberos would instruct the drivers to lower the price once more buses arrived.

“But unfortunately, as more buses arrived, the agberos kept telling the drivers to raise the fare. I’m shocked. This is pure wickedness,” Adewale lamented.

Joshua, a worshipper, who returned from church, informed our correspondent that the agberos were the main cause of the fare hike and urged authorities to find a lasting solution to the problem.

He said, “These individuals were dictating the fares to the drivers to increase their earnings. As the fares go up, they collect more from the drivers, leaving the passengers to bear the burden.”

A lady, who chose not to reveal her name, lamented the hours she had spent at the park because she couldn’t afford the increased fare.

“I didn’t budget for this when I left home this morning. I’ve been here for hours, and the drivers keep increasing the fares,” she lamented.

When our correspondent discussed the sudden fare hike at the bus stop, a driver who identified himself as Kazeem said he had filled his bus tank with fuel purchased from the black market.

“There’s no fuel available; the queues are too long. The fuel I’m using now was bought at black market prices. Do you expect us to charge the same rates?” Kazeem queried.

TASKFORCE BOSS EGBEYEMI FREES SEIZED VEHICLES FROM TRAFFIC YARD

.....Begin clampdown against touting in Lagos.

Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi has ordered immediate release of vehicles impounded at the Agency's traffic yard in Ikorodu axis of the state, over various traffic offenses, on learning of alleged touting, reported by members of the public against the unit.

Egbeyemi who paid unscheduled working visit to the traffic park yard released those vehicles to their owners, despite various traffic offenses committed including driving against traffic, driving on brt Lane, obstructions among others, after they all pleaded for mercy and admitted their wrong doings.

No fewer than 7 vehicles were released to their respective owner, while others were informed to report at the unit office for proper identification and other processes.

CSP Egbeyemi stated that his decision to free those vehicles was to prove that the Lagos State Government was not to create hardship in the State but it would also not tolerate lawlessness from members of the public.

He explained that the action was also to inform Lagosians that the State Government does not encourage touting or bribery and that the Agency would take action against any of its agency's officer found guilty of such crime.

Egbeyemi reiterated his commitment of ensuring adequate discipline among his men even as he disclosed that any taskforce member caught collecting bribe or extortion from members of the public will face the wrath of the Law.

He noted that they will continue to zero tolerance for driving against traffic to make recalcitrant motorists to be law-abiding.

"It is not that we are anti-mases. We fight those people that are adamant and defiant. We are not in a state of anarchy, we are in an orderly society where there must be law and order. We take offender to court, and once anyone is pronounced guilty, such ends in prison"

"How can a sane drive driving against another vehicle coming with speed: this is how innocent people are killed" The Chairman said.

Egbeyemi charged members of the taskforce to desist from any act that can dent the image of the unit, pointed out that it would be difficult to enforce law once they engage in corrupt act.

According to him, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP EDGAL IMOHIMI had declared zero tolerance to corruption and declared that corruption would not have a place during his tenure as police boss in the State.

"Am appealing to lagosians to abide with the law and regulations that guide road use. Be a good citizen and don't offer members of the taskforce bribe and in case any of them demand please kindly report.

Egbeyemi said the unit understand the plight of the masses. But that laws must be respected so as to make the State livable for people.

" These are things we do but people don't understand. It is my duty to raid when people are doing illegality"

One of the freed vehicles' owner before leaving the traffic yard in Ikorodu cast blames of his wrong on passengers, though vowed not to succumb to pressure in the future.

Besides, one Segun Olusoga, a private taxi driver, claimed that a passenger he had in his vehicle pleaded with him to manoeuvre traffic that she was late for appointment.

"I drive Toyota Corolla car with registration number AGL 136 BH, in the process of trying to satisfy my client, I maneuver traffic and was caught but to my surprise the passenger eventually left me with my problem"

The case of Akinpelu Atanda with plate number KSF 10 FB was similar as he admitted to wrong doing also pleaded not to repeat it again "I don't know why I was in a hurry, now that I was arrested where am rushing to, I can't go again"

Five Dead, Five Rescued as Boat Capsizes in Lagos

About five persons drowned wednesday, while five others were rescued when a 20-passenger boat capsized mid-way from Ebute Terminal, along the Lagos – Ikorodu Expressway.

The boat was said to have capsized by the Ferry Terminal, Ipakodo, Ebute, as the passengers were heading from CMS to Ikorodu.

As at press time, rescue operations were still ongoing as only 10 persons- the dead and the rescued, were accounted for.

THISDAY gathered that the bodies of the dead persons were brought to the jetty at Ipakodo located in outskirts of Lagos for onward movement to the nearest morgue.

Confirming the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Adesina Tiamiyu, said the agency received the distress call late in the evening.

“The agency received the distress call and on arrival at the incident scene, it was observed that a 20 capacity passenger boat belonging to Blue Sea capsized mid-sea enroute Ikorodu from Lagos Island. Investigation carried out by the LRT revealed that the immediate cause of the boat mishap was unknown at time of report.

“Unfortunately five persons (four adult females and one adult male) were confirmed dead as a result of the incident and their bodies were deposited at the morgue at Ikorodu General Hospital. Meanwhile, five persons – four females and one male were rescued alive.

“The exercise was carried out by the combined efforts of LASEMA, Lagos State Waterways Agency (LASWA), and the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS). Figures of other rescued victims cannot be ascertained as they were brought to the jetty with various passing boat. Recovery efforts still on-going at time of this report,” Tiamiyu explained

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