Lagos residents trek, lament hike in transport fare as President Buhari visits state
The declaration of a work free day by the Lagos State government to ensure ease of movement for President Muhammadu Buhari when he arrives to commission some projects, has had stressful effects on residents.
Residents had been told to stay off major roads, and for some, to stay at home.
Buhari is expected to be at the official flag-off ceremony for the construction of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Project in Epe.
The president would also tour the Eko Atlantic City and inaugurate the Ikeja Bus Terminal, before proceeding to attend a colloquium marking the 66th birthday of APC chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Victoria Island.
There were no buses for commuters attempting to go about the day’s business early Thursday morning.
In very rare cases where the buses were available, ridiculous amount of fare was demanded.
Bus fares that would normally go for N100-N150 were put at N300 and above.
The commercial bus drivers give excuses that usual routes have been blocked by police authorities in anticipation of Buhari’s visit.
Many commuters resorted to trekking.
One commuter going from Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos to Ikeja lamented that she would find it hard to return home, as she had spent a major chunk of her money on bus fare.
“I don’t know why we have to suffer because Buhari is coming to Lagos,” she lamented.
Another commuter said he was more irked because the shutdown of the roads was “unnecessary”.
A lady, who identified herself as Lydia, said: “Normally, it is from Agege passing through Ikeja to Yaba which is N300. But the bus passed through Ojota today and we had to pay N400 instead.”
Many commuters fear the exorbitant would get worse in the later part of the day as rush for buses would increase.
The development is an indictment on Lagos governor Akinwunmi Ambode who, as many believe, could have made less draconian law regarding residents’ movements.
