bloggernaija: Try london underground or overground during rush hour.there is nothing unique about that picture. it is the same challenge worldwideStop complaining. You live in a city. It is one of the disadvantage of living in one.the matter is millions of people trying to get from point A to point B at the same time ( rush hour) in a state of 4000 square mile.

True, bro. But the overcrowding in this case is a symptom of mismanagement. That's my contention. Most of the time, while buses are being overcrowded at one end of a route, several buses are standing empty at the other end. Imagine 90-minute to two hour intervals between bus arrivals! Haba! How is someone with appointments to keep supposed to get about on such a schedule or non-schedule? The BRT is supposed to provide a model of quality service for the private bus operators. The only selling point the BRT system has in Lagos now is its relatively lower fares.

PapaBrowne: Truth is the BRT is loosing its steam. I have always wondered why despite the popularity, Fashola hasnt built new BRT lanes nor has he added sufficient amounts of new buses on the routes.

It seems he's busy with other more pressing matters such as the light-rail thing. We've never lacked imagination for new innovations in Nigeria as far as I'm concerned. Sustaining them has been the bane of our systems. BRT is unnecessarily loosing steam 'cos the way I see it, it won't take too much to rectify some of the issues plaguing it now. Just some stricter regulation and close monitoring I believe, will achieve so much

^
True. It begins with you and I. But I'm particular pained by the state of affairs of the BRT. I celebrate(d) its initiation. I loved (and still love)the concept. So it's painful to observe its imminent downfall. I'm still pondering on what actions I can personally take or induce to address this tide. I don't board overcrowded buses and I discourage people from doing so. Recently, I've initiated a boycott of the service sef. But all these measures look like a drop in the ocean.
By the way, overcrowding is ONLY one of the cancers eating at this system

Part 1 - Trapped. Help!
I watched again yesterday as another molue BRT bus was loaded and dispatched. As has become the norm along the Ikeja-Iyana Ipaja route which I ply regularly, the bus was OVER-loaded. So much so that the men who were loading and dispatching the buses began to admit people through the exit (rear) door into the already crowded vehicle. When a few of the passengers already standing, tightly packed inside protested against being inconvenienced, the official in question commented to those around him, 'Some people are wicked o!' He simply couldn't relate with why 'some people' were hesitant about being harassed at being stuffed like sardines in a bus, for an hour-long drive.

I mentally shook my head (I did not have the strength to comment, let alone facilitate unnecessary bodily movement).

The man's utter insensitivity to the plight of the passengers let alone the reputation of his organization or even the hazards of the bad practice he was facilitating, completely bewildered me.

I had always blamed this development solely on the bus operators but it abruptly dawned on me at that moment that commuters are equally culpable - actually the Bulk portion of blame.

It is attitudes such as this from both concerned quarters - service providers and service consumers - that will truncate the BRT vision, if unchecked. No system collapses abruptly. In my line of work, I am daily confronted with the knowledge that for every accident that occurs, there are Causal and Contributory factors. An effect (mishap, accident, failure) may often be averted or mitigated despite the cause, if contributory factors are eliminated. Hence I preserve hope in spite of the ominous collapse of this laudable initiative, especially in view of the sad history of similar initiatives in the past.

So back to the question, not of who to blame, but how the blame should be apportioned.

Must Nigerians always be docile, accepting and even proponents of the unsavoury conditions they daily encounter? Why do we so easily resign to fate and smother our faith? The BRT situation is only one manifestation of this trend.

On the said day, I had even been standing at the bus stop for about an hour waiting for a bus, in a long queue that alternately thinned and coalesced according to the strength and/or patience of the other commuters (a discussion for another day). When the bus eventually arrived, we boarded until it was also overloaded. Of course, I had ensured I obtained a window seat so as to distance myself from the anticipated confusion in the aisle. My expectations were not disappointed. Shortly after departure from the terminal, the bus stopped once again, apparently to take on more passengers!

Of course, there were the few grunts of protest, a few outbursts (more of impatience than anger), even a joke or two about where the driver intended to place the new entrants. I was not amused in the least and I broke my usual reticence to voice a protest. I was tempted to start a revolt. But confrontation has never really been one of my strong points, much less physical ones.

There's only so much a one-man army can accomplish, I consoled myself, especially if those with whom you share the cause are complacent about their lot. But there will be days when logic will have to submit to brute force. So I will prepare for such a time.

On the part of the government and other relevant authorities, it baffles me that they would allow such a worthy enterprise to be mismanaged and this, not for want of evidence of these lapses requiring attention or a dearth of ideas of courses of action to take. Measures as simple as placing load restrictions on the buses could make a world of difference. I don't know if such exists. The franchisees being more concerned with their profit margins than with quality service delivery, are lackadaisical about the welfare of their customers. I am not privy to the terms of the contract between the State government and the operators but I believe certain aspects of it are being violated. From my observations, the drivers are rewarded on a sort of quota system based on the volume of traffic they move daily. I might have assumed wrongly but it was just my observation. This would explain why drivers would allow their vehicles to be so precariously loaded, in total violation of safety concerns.


To be continued...
(c) www.nu-well..com

Ishilove: Hi. My name is Chilo. I'm 25 years old, stats 36.22.36. I work in oil company and I need a very rich man btwn the ages of 35-40 years who can take care of a woman. He must know how to cook and clean. He must be willing to pamper me and spoil me with gifts because I come from a very rich family.

He must also be willing to settle down within the next three months. In addition, he must be willing to undergo deliverance before we marry.

PM me for my contacts

See my picture below.

*smiling to self while scrolling through profile*
*sights picture*
'Chai!'
*falls off chair and breaks arm*

Ishilove: Nu-wel u well done o. You for kukuma talk sey you wan advertise your blog

But seriously, can you show me how to import and paste a table? I had to paste that link 'cos I didn't know how to do so here.
Some help, anybody?

sexymoma: truely speakin it reali gettin out of hand nd dey re nt to b blame, we av sum guys dat do go to d market nd purchase sum silly cloth 4 dia gurlfwend

Eh hen, And force them to wear it?Dem be pickin?

^
We? You sef follow dey wait? For who na?

Ishilove:

Phew! Pardon the epistle; I am in a rather chatty mood

Yep. And I'm also a very good listener. Don't worry. You'll get your full readership back. Great and continuously improving skill like yours attracts, inspires and commands attention. Dey fire dey go. I know how unappreciative most people can be of the efforts great people take to achieve the things they do. We usually just celebrate their exploits and castigate their lapses. So it's all in the package. I'm sure you know all that already. We full ground dey wait.

nu-well:

At last, Ishi.
Once again, We' done o!!!
Comments and analysis to be compiled later.

@Ishi: Like say I get anoda thing to talk except to extol your writing prowess - how you are able to weave an intriguing tale; entangle us in it; despite our threats, keep us hanging on for more irrespective of how long it takes to come; satiate however temporarily our thirst for more and still keep us wondering and expectant of the next dose.
Well done o! Na correct witchcraft be that! This ya brand dey potent. But I'm covered by the blood.

esere826: @ishilove

Its a lie. You mean you actually finished the story by the second quarter of the year
Jeez!!
You're getting better by leaps and bounds
I wonder which young man is begining to influence you positively
(don't tell me its Jesus )

And why can't it be Jesus, Sir? Is it not the same Jesus (abi no be so @Ishi) wey wan deliver the Chilo girl now, eh?

At last, Ishi.
Once again, We' done o!!!
Comments and analysis to be compiled later.

Mustay: Sticky on the Autos Section or Creating an archive section!

Ok.Thanks for the tip although I'm not sure I know how to do either of both processes. Or is that a moderator's jurisdiction?

Nice thread. Following.

swizzle: FE = Iron

Therefore FEMALE = IRONMAN

So for your mind now, you don demystify the probable reason for the effectiveness of the attack, ba?
We' done. You don qualify for honourary award in Applied Chemistry.

Police is your friend!

inaluf:

That is the same question i have been asking myself o.

Me three!

If Nairaland has a Reference Archive for certain threads, I would like to recommend that this one be placed in it for easy reference at all times. Front page threads soon become 'extinct' when traffic wanes on them.We need to keep this one from disappearing.
Any ideas, anyone?

Mazi_Omenuko:

#sights naptu coming in from one end and runs away via the opposite end. . .#

Bros, come back joor. Mr Naptu is a gentleman. Abi ya conscience dey haunt u say u talk bad tin?

rodeo0070:
The matter, which was adjourned until
April 29 [/b]for judgment at Court 4, Yaba,
could not hold because the magistrate
was said to be ill.

SOURCE: mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/metro/woman-removes-mans-teeth-with-slap/

How the judge no go sick? E no dey fear face as d woman dey get mind to gree say na she damage im guy face abi na mouth? Abi make d woman vex wey e dey sentence am, com release one thunderbolt take destroy d destiny of d mouth wey e take dey earn and chop bread? Abeg o. Na whr dem dey slap Paul, na im Peter dey give imsef brain. LOL

Ordinary Slap fa!
ROFLMAO!!!
Una sure say she no use backup power?
By the way, 'creative' titling too.

Halos! Anybody home?
@yimidee: You are welcome o!

Ishilove:
I'm here...

Nu-well, foxy, naptu, esere, wats goin on?

Sorry, jare. I'm back now sha

Foxy_Ultimate:

**Kicks him out**

Enough, I can see something begining to show its face. I wonder why your handset is helping you in the hugging

Foxy_Ultimate:

Eh now... Do you think you can [b]pay one for his/her talent?[/b]

...Or time? No. But we can make them happy enough to be more willing and glad to deploy or expend such resources, abi?
Anyway, forget it sha

Ishilove: thanks esere for telling the world I'm a tailor

Hmmm...Now that explains to some extent, why getting home from 'work' ain't the end of the day's hassles.