Tricycle Operators Defy LASG’s Order

Tricycle operators in Lagos have continued to shun the state government’s order which barred them from carrying more than three passengers, newsmen report.

Our correspondent reports that following the ban, the operators raised their fares to make for the reduction in the number of passengers they carry per trip.

However, months later, they reverted to carrying four passengers but maintained their new fares.

Some tricycle operators, who spoke with newsmen over their non-compliance with order limiting their passengers to three, attributed it to the high cost of acquiring the tricycles.

Mr Tochukwu Emeka, a 29-year-old operator, said that compliance would make it difficult for some of them to repay the loans they got to buy their tricules.

“I bought my keke on hire purchase for N400,000. If I continue to obey the government directive, I will not be able to pay the money,” he said.

Another operator, 34-year-old Samuel Babatunde, told newsmen that operators carried four passengers instead of three because of low patronage.

“When government restricted us to three passengers, we increased our fare from N20 to N30 and our passengers started shunning us for commercial buses,” said Babatunde who plies Costain Oyingbo route.

According to him, operators had to reduce the fare to N20, but to break-even, they started carrying four passengers again.

Mr John Ezeife, who plies Iponri-Surulere, also confirmed low patronage, saying “when we were carrying three passengers, money was not forthcoming because our passengers abandoned us for commercial buses”.

Our correspondent reports that the Federal road Safety Corps (FRSC), Surulere Unit Command on June 2, organised an enlightenment programme on the dangers of overloading tricycles.

Tagged: “Say no to overloading”, the programme brought together about 200 tricycle operators in Surulere and its environs.