Hawker’s Death Paralyses BRT Operation In Lagos
The Managing Director of Primero Transport Services Limited, Fola Tinubu, has disclosed that 48 Bus rapid transit (BRT) Buses were vandalized on Wednesday during the protest of the death of a street hawker, crushed by a BRT at Maryland in Lagos State.
The hawker was knocked down by a BRT while fleeing arrest by the officials of the environmental law enforcement unit in the state, also known as Kick against Indiscipline (KAI).
In a violent reaction to the hawker’s death, other hawkers and suspected hoodlums immediately expressed their anger by destroying some of the mass transit vehicles on sight.
Tinubu while speaking to newsmen said:
Advertisement
“As at the time of this statement, 48 buses were estimated to have been vandalised and damaged at the scene of the event.”
“The blue BRT buses did not in any way, directly or otherwise, have contact with the late young man.”
“I am saying categorically that none of our buses or drivers was involved in the accident.”
“Even the statement released by KAI and that by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information clearly attests to this.”
Advertisement
“Unfortunately, the suspected hoodlums took advantage of the incident to unleash mayhem on our drivers, while also causing severe damages to our buses.”
“Some of the busmen are still receiving medical treatment and some commuters had some of their belongings stolen.”
“The damages on the buses range from broken front, sides and rear windshields to the side mirrors.”
“Some buses also had their exteriors dented.”
“The buses will be parked in our depot until repairs are carried out, which we expect will run into millions of Naira.”
Advertisement
“We, including our insurers, are still quantifying the financial implications right now.
“But we know for a fact that it is going to run into hundreds of millions of Naira.”
“My people will work round the clock to make sure we get these buses out as soon as possible.”
He said: “I have been to about six of our major bus stops; the commuters are not feeling that effect because of the actions we took on Wednesday night.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) night, we cancelled the night shift just because of safety reasons and I have just spoken to my drivers and encouraged them; they will go back on the road.”
Tinubu disclaimed insinuations that the National Union of Road Transport Workers had anything to do with the ventilation.
Advertisement
“I totally don’t agree that any member of the NURTW or anybody that is associated with them has anything to do with this.
“It will be highly irresponsible of me to say such; I don’t believe they are part of it; I have never heard of it and I don’t want to go there.”
“If we want private sector to create jobs, we cannot have this kind of incidence in the country because the whole world is seeing it.
“We cannot continue to destroy private properties like this; nobody would want to invest his money if we continue this way.”
Some of the destroyed buses seen parked at the depot are coded: 07, 382, 146, 213, 127, 376, 229, 286, 157, 216, 048, 311, 020, 050, 031, 118, 091, 055, 031, 151, 238 and 377, 240, 262, 226, 322, 050, 143, 053, 320, 342, 078, 067, 030, 041, 013 and 347.
