Many Bus Rapid Transport commuters were stranded at various bus stations in Lagos State on Tuesday due to the state’s directive to suspend operation in sympathy on the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwole.
The situation, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, saw thousands of commuters stranded at various stations across Lagos State.
A BRT passenger, Innocent Kanu, said he waited for BRT at Iyana-Ipaja for three hours, adding that he had to enter another commercial bus at exorbitant price.
He said that a daily trip, which usually costs N1,200 from Iyana Ipaja to and fro, did cost him N3,200 due to the absence of BRT buses.
Kanu said: “I entered N1,000 from Iyana-Ipaja to Oshodi and I took another bus to Ojuelegba for N300 and entered the last bus going to CMS for N300 at Ojuelegba.”
Another passenger, Lara Badmus, a former Banker now selling jewelries at Dosumu in Lagos, said she spent N1,500 from Igbogbo in Ikorodu to Dosumu Market in Lagos.
A staff of an insurance company in Costain, Benjamin Ajayi, said getting to work was so hectic and expensive compared to other days because once BRT shuns operations, other transporters extort passengers.
Ajayi sympathised with the families of the deceased and prayed for the Lagos State Government to get justice for the dead victim as soon as possible.
A phone repairer at Computer Village in Ikeja, Chidi Tobechukwu, said he spent N700 from Iyana-Ipaja to Ikeja as a result of the absence of BRT operations in Lagos.
The Public Affairs Officer of Primero, Mutiu Yekeen, said the directive to stop operations came from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Yekeen said that the protest to mourn the death of the missing lady, who was later found dead, led to the Governor’s directive.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ayanwole, 22, got missing after boarding a Lagos Bus Rapid Transit vehicle, with her corpse reportedly found with some body parts missing days later.
One of Ayanwole’s relatives made the claim on Monday, saying that they are awaiting the outcome of an autopsy.
Many students of public schools who usually enjoy free BRT bus rides were stranded at various BRT stations in Lagos.
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