By Peace Erewunmi

The Lagos State Government has explained why it has been unable to replace all the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses destroyed during the #EndSARS protests in 2020.

The state’s Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, attributed the delay largely to the sharp increase in the cost of acquiring new buses.

Hamzat disclosed this during a question-and-answer session with Nigeria Info FM on Thursday, explaining that buses which were purchased for about N80 million each at the time now cost approximately N280 million.

According to him, the significant increase in acquisition costs has made it difficult for the state to replace all the buses destroyed during the unrest.

“During #EndSARS, if you recall, 200 of those buses were burnt. We bought those buses at that time for 80 million per bus. Now, it’s about 280 million per one,” Hamzat said.

The Deputy Governor said the failure to replace the buses has contributed to the shortage currently being experienced by commuters across the state.

He explained that the government had also anticipated that some existing buses would need to be withdrawn from service after seven or eight years, making the replacement of the destroyed buses increasingly important.

“Unfortunately, you know, we’ve not been able to replace all the 200, and that’s what we are seeing today,” he said.

Government Considers Private Sector Participation

Hamzat said the Lagos State Government was looking towards increased private-sector participation as part of efforts to address the transportation challenges.

He argued that private operators could acquire and deploy buses more quickly, while the government could subsidise fares to make public transportation more affordable for residents.

According to him, government should not necessarily be directly involved in managing buses because private operators can respond more quickly to changing transportation needs.

The Deputy Governor also highlighted other measures being pursued by the state, including the expansion of ferry services and improvements to the rail system.

He expressed optimism that combining rail, water and road transportation would eventually improve mobility across Lagos.

Conflicting Figures on Burnt Buses

The figure of 200 buses cited by Hamzat differs from an earlier figure released by the Lagos State Government after the 2020 unrest.

In April 2021, the then Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said 80 BRT vehicles were destroyed during the violence—23 large buses at Ojodu and 57 medium-sized buses at Oyingbo.

The #EndSARS protests began in October 2020 as demonstrations against police brutality and the activities of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The protests later escalated into violence and destruction in several parts of Lagos, including the burning of buses at the Oyingbo BRT terminus.

The latest explanation from the Lagos State Government comes amid renewed concerns over the availability of BRT buses and the challenges faced by commuters across the state.