17 March 2008 marked the beginning of a revolution in the mass transit sector in Lagos state.

That was the date that the first phase of the Lagos BRT was launched.

The introduction of the Lagos BRT significantly ushered the state away from the unenviable example of a classic urban disorder.

The BRT is a mass transit system that employs dedicated lanes, enabling buses to avoid traffic – and by extension, ensure shorter duration of journeys.

In its first year, the Lagos BRT transported an average of 200,000 passengers per day. In 2012, it carried 51 million passengers, averaging around 140,000 a day. This arrangement was very lucrative for the operator. However, in no time, the operator became overwhelmed by the patronage.

In 2012, the Lagos State Bus Asset Management Limited (LAGBUS), the company in charge of managing and operating the BRT service, began giving out franchises to private investors. Soon, 10 companies were licensed to acquire BRT buses and integrate them in the Lagos BRT scheme.

Note that LAGBUS is a management collaboration of the Lagos state government/LAMATA with the Lagos state NURTW.

As of 2016, the number of BRT franchisees had increased to about 37.

In 2016, the Ambode-led government of Lagos state abruptly banned the operation of the LAGBUS-supervised buses including those under its franchise scheme. The reason giving for the ban was constant breaches of the franchise agreement the operator signed in 2007.

Over 36 BRT franchisees, together with the original NURTW-owned BRT buses were affected. The ban prevented them from plying the very lucrative BRT corridors to load or drop passengers. They could only use the road like other private vehicles.

On November 7, 2016, the sudden banned sparked off a protest by the franchisees.

The ground for their protest was that they still had a running contract with LAGBUS – and by extension the Lagos state government/LAMATA.

Then curiously, a certain private company – Primero Transport Services Limited – became the sole BRT bus operator.



Indeed, and just like the exclusivity accorded to companies like Visionscape and Alpha-Beta Consulting – buses owned by Primero Transport Services Limited were accorded the exclusive rights to operate on the BRT corridors in Lagos state.

Even more curious was that the details of the contract Primero Transport Services Limited signed with LAMATA remains shrouded in secrecy.

For instance, was there a terminal date for the contract?

What happens when the company fails in its responsibility of fulfilling its obligations to the public?



On May 16, 2016, the Lagos State Government donated 50 brand new high-capacity Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicles to Primero Transport Services Limited. The reason given for the donation was to mitigate effects of new pump price of petrol on its residents.

Why should a state government donate buses to a private profit-making company?

Was the Lagos state government’s largess to Primero part of the mysterious contract they signed?



Primero Transport Services Limited was established in 2014.

Its BRT bus service was launched on 12 November 2015 by His Excellency Mr. Akinwumi ‘Dapo Ambode. The company commenced its BRT operation with 434 Youtong high capacity buses. It currently operates the BRT buses service on the Ikorodu to CMS corridor.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Primero Transport Services Limited is Mr Fola Tinubu.




https://autojosh.com/see-how-primero-became-the-sole-brt-operator-in-lagos/

Lalasticlala
Mynd44
Ishilove
Marpol
Semid4lyfe
Obinoscopy
Seun

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Primero Transport Services Limited is Mr Fola Tinubu.

Say no more

Na dem dem

Tinubu and sons Nigeria limited

Stop hating

A people deserve the leader they get

Eko oni baje o. Our politicians keep raping our commonwealth

Gburugburu Tunubu and family

SalamRushdie:


Say no more

Abi ooo my brother case closed.

Before i read to the end of the write up i knew who could be behind this.

SalamRushdie:


Say no more

Lagos is dirty what with the noice.

Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko lo je wa l'ogun

What is bad if Tinubu owns the BRT company? Is this not better than Fayose that refuse to pay salaries? Tinubu is loved by we yorubas. He's our leader and he's entitled to whatever he wants in Lagos.

[s]

Ejimagift:
What is bad if Tinubu owns the BRT company? Is this not better than Fayose that refuse to pay salaries? Tinubu is loved by we yorubas. He's our leader and he's entitled to whatever he wants in Lagos.

[/s]

Very soon Tinubu will sell you off

AutojoshNG please write something on Lagos-badagry express way (seems the government reads your posts), it has become an open toilet to okada riders(mostly the northerners). It's very disgusting seeing people on top of road demacations defecating and no one is doing anything about it.
It's really traumatizing passing through that road everyday.

Surprisingly for the first time in ages AutoJosh is finding it difficult to make front page with this interesting post you go fear fear na

This will surely make front page, autojush Weldon o,

Armchair Writer, You're being paid by a disgruntled few to discredit LASG.. This path is very slippery.

-python2

FarahAideed:
Surprisingly for the first time in ages AutoJosh is finding it difficult to make front page with this interesting post you go fear fear na

Because AutoJosh is biased.

Ive seen his reports on topics he clearly was not grounded in.

I call it credibility issue. If you want to be a consumer advocate you have to specialize and be thoroughly credible.

That is our democracy for you, government of their people, by their people and for their people.

Dat ambode has been doing competing n destroying fashola's legacy i wish jimi agbaje won

Dats what ambode has been doing competing n destroying fashola's legacy i wish jimi agbaje won

BabaRamota1980:


Because AutoJosh is biased.

Ive seen his reports on topics he clearly was not grounded in.

I call it credibility issue. If you want to be a consumer advocate you have to specialize and be thoroughly credible.

Biased? When it doesn't suit your narrative then it is biase, right?

BabaRamota1980:


Because AutoJosh is biased.

Ive seen his reports on topics he clearly was not grounded in.

I call it credibility issue. If you want to be a consumer advocate you have to specialize and be thoroughly credible.

Almost 60% of what Autojosh writes about on Nairaland is about the achievements of Ambode. But when he singles out a topic to talk about Ambode's failure, then he is bias, right?

Na wa. And this didn't make FrontPage?
Now, I have lost hope in this country.

RevenGeMission:
Stop hating

You are a wicked person, and God will judge you

Jokerman:


You are a wicked person, and God will judge you

God will judge you too

python2gbera:
Armchair Writer, You're being paid by a disgruntled few to discredit LASG.. This path is very slippery.

-python2

No offense intended sir, but what you just exhibited is clearly a slave's mentality.