A hundred air-conditioned buses with WIFI internet facility were launched on Tuesday by the Lagos state government in conjunction with LAGBUS Asset Management Limited.
The new BRTs called ‘Metro Bus’ also have implanted security cameras that live-feed directly to security agencies for commuters’ safety.
The buses will ply Sango-Oshodi, Obalende- Ikorodu, and Island-Epe routes for the time being, as a test run towards the launching of 1800 buses to go through 47 more routes in Lagos.
Passengers will also be able to keep track of bus arrivals from their mobile phones, via sms alerts.
This new launch of buses depict a trend of technology advancement in the transport services. Before this, the BRT buses were upgraded with a device known as ‘Card Validator’ and a ‘Lagos Connect Card’ in the pursuit of a cashless bus-riding system in Lagos. Passenger with a duly registered card can board any BRT with a card validator in it, tap the card to the validator and when alighting tap the card again to ensure he/she has been charged appropriately with a 20 naira discount for any destination.
There are speculations that only a few BRT buses had active card validators, most terminal points do not have the card recharging facility, reports of passengers being overcharged and drivers switching off validators with claims that it reduces the amount made from paper tickets.
So, this laudable development, though a great move by the Lagos state government, raises questions of if it will actually work, and how long it will last. We’ve reached out to the operators for comment.
