The Lagos State Government has explained that the high cost of purchasing new vehicles is responsible for its inability to replace all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses destroyed during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
The state’s Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, disclosed this on Thursday during a question-and-answer session on Nigeria Info FM, where he addressed concerns over the shortage of BRT buses and transportation challenges facing residents.
Hamzat said the government purchased the affected buses at about N80 million each when they were initially acquired, but the cost has now risen to approximately N280 million per bus.
“During #EndSARS, if you recall, 200 of those buses were burnt. We bought those buses at that time for N80 million per bus. Now, it’s about N280 million per one,” he said.
The deputy governor explained that the state had planned for the gradual retirement of old buses after seven or eight years of service, but the inability to replace the vehicles destroyed during the unrest had worsened the current shortage.
“Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to replace all the 200, and that’s what we are seeing today,” Hamzat stated.
The 2020 #EndSARS protests, which began as a movement against police brutality and the activities of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), later escalated into violence, leading to the destruction of public and private properties in parts of Lagos.
The Oyingbo BRT terminal was among the facilities attacked during the unrest, with several buses burnt. However, the figure of 200 buses mentioned by Hamzat differs from the 80 buses earlier reported by the Lagos State Government in 2021.
Speaking on solutions to the transportation challenges, Hamzat said the state was encouraging more private sector involvement in bus operations, with government support through transport subsidies.
He argued that private operators could respond faster to transportation needs compared to government-managed systems.
“Government should not be in the business of managing buses because it becomes cumbersome. But if it’s private, they are able to do it. They are nimble, they are faster,” he said.
Hamzat added that the state was also expanding alternative transport systems, including waterways and rail services, to improve movement across Lagos.
“We are bringing in ferries. Our train is working better. So, by the time we put all this together, transportation will be better for everybody in Lagos,” he said.
Samuel Agada is a writer and media contributor from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos and a former banker with GTBank and FCMB. A prolific writer, songwriter, educator, and Gospel preacher, he is passionate about informing, inspiring, and impacting society through his work.