Some Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) passengers along the Ikeja/Oshodi corridor have appealed to the Lagos state government to boost security on the buses for improved safety of commuters.

Passengers who spoke on Sunday, sought deployment of technology to make operations better and safer for commuters, to avert a repeat of what they termed the “Bamise saga”.

A trader in Computer Village, who simply identified himself as Okudili, said the BRT was the hope of business people, who had to catch up early with business appointments.

“Government has banned Okada on highways, BRT is the fastest means we have, especially business people.

“The death of Bamise should make all transportation stakeholders have a roundtable discussion on how to make BRT safer,” he said.

A 300 level student of the University of Lagos, Peju Pedro, said “it is scarier taking BRT at night now because I will be afraid of rape or death. Government should make them safer.”

Another student of Agidingbi Junior High School, Master Joseph Kushima, said the bus was assisting to carry students to school for free.

“We like BRT, they should not stop it, if there is security no driver can kill anybody,” he said.

Bamise Ayanwola, the late 22-year-old fashion designer, was allegedly abducted by a BRT driver, Nice Andrew Omininikoron and others after she boarded a BRT on February 26.

Afraid of public outrage that may lead to destruction or attacks on the fleet, the state government suspended the operations of BRT for two days, leading to outcry by stranded commutters at various bus stops, and forcing the government to restore the fleet. 

(NAN)