Buses, hitherto parked at the Ikeja Bus Terminus, commissioned in pomp and pageantry by President Buhari, have disappeared from the terminal. Even the terminal itself appears to be undergoing systematic dismembering and renovation. The new buses that were parked at the terminal suddenly vanished into thin air, except for two solitary vehicles.
It will be recalled that during the President last march commissioned the terminal, which was far from completed, in celebrated circumstances. Six months later, the buses arrived the terminal in batches. They were idling away at the terminal before they suddenly disappeared. But there are signs that the construction of the main terminal building, different from the commissioned one, is being worked on, though there appears to e no work going on. Those talked to by this magazine kept sealed lips.
There were blocks of concretes parked where the buses used to park but no activity was witnessed.
The terminal was estimated to carry about 200,000 passengers daily to 23 Lagos destinations. It was planned with different types of public transport operations as part of the 434 strong fleet that was to replace the Babatunde Fashola Bus Rapid Transit, BRT. It was meant to be part of the first phase of the Ambode’s transport program that will see 13 new Bus terminals introduced. It is part of major terminals at the popular cities in the Lagos such as Oshodi, Yaba, Ojota, Agege and the already completed Tafawa Balewa Bus Terminal. It was to be handled by Primero, under the Managing Directorship of Fola Tinubu. Indications were that Ambode has a large chunk of shares of Primero, and that subsequent upon his one term ticket, he is tidying up all the Primero activities since it is said that Babatunde Sanwo-olu may not continue with the projects.
As things stand now, Ambode is only interested in rushing some of the projects he feels he can complete before May 29 2019. This includes the Lagos Abeokuta road that the job finishing appears to be rushed, while putting commuters under serious discomfort. Even the Oshodi Terminal may also be suspended. The terminal was not even ready in any way when it was commissioned. The ticketing area, furniture, and even the main terminal multipurpose building were not ready.
It is not clear where the buses have been taken to.
