The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has faulted the proposed increase in the fare for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) across various routes in the state, calling for a reversal of the plan.

The Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Hakeem Amode, in a statement on Saturday in Lagos, berated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for approving such a hike, saying it would add to the plight of the masses.

Amode said the APC-led government blamed the hike on the pump price of diesel from N187 to N830 and the unavailability of spare parts for the increase were not justifiable.

According to him, with the crippling economic situation being experienced by Lagos residents daily, the government showed a lack of compassion and total disregard for the plight of the citizens of the state.

“Sanwo-Olu-led APC administration has completely abdicated its responsibility to the people of the state and turned a blind eye to their predicament.

“The few ‘luxuries’ that the people benefit from the state are being taken away.

“Now is not the time for any form of increment, as the people of the state have suffered enough under this unsympathetic government,” he said.

Amode said the proposed increase should be “shelved so as not to worsen the citizens’ situation in the face of dilapidated infrastructure, insecurity, hunger, rise in crime”, among others being experienced by the people of the state.

Sanwo-Olu had on Thursday approved a flat rate increase by N100 in bus fares for all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Standard Routes with effect from July 13.

With the increase, a bus ride from Ikorodu-TBS will now cost N600 from N500 while Berger to Ajah is now N700, up from N600.

Also, Oshodi to Abule Egba will cost N450 from N350 and Abule-Egba-CMS-Obalende will attract a fare of N600.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, was behind the wheels of a tricycle (Keke) on Saturday.

Obj, as fondly called, rode through some roads in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun, to pick passengers.

The sight caught the attention of many who cheered the former Head of State and also took photos.

The elder statesman, who offered rides to citizens, moved through Moshood Abiola, NNPC Mega Station, Kuto Market, among others.

The activity was part of OBJ @ 85 Free Keke Programme of the Youth Development Centre of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

In his remarks, Obasanjo appealed to the youths not to leave Nigeria to those messing it up.

The ex-leader said despite the challenges, they should try to take advantage of available opportunities to make an impact.

“Things are not what they should be but youths, individually and collectively, must make contributions in order to make things the way they should be.

“If you leave things to those who are messing it up for you and who are saying you are the leaders of tomorrow, you will never have that tomorrow.

“God has given you innate ability to be what He wants you to be. If you make up your mind, God will help you and provide people who would help you”, he added.

Former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, has decried the migration of Nigerians to European countries for greener pastures through Libya.

The PUNCH reports that no fewer than 774 stranded Nigerians have been repatriated from Libya between August ,2021 and June 1, 2022.

But Shettima believed that the country must be fixed to put a stop to migration of citizens crossing through the desert from Nigeria to Libya with the hope of getting to Europe.

He spoke at the investiture ceremony of the Managing Editor, Northern Operations of The Nation newspapers, Yusuf Ali, as the 11th president of the Rotary club of Abuja, Maitama.

Shettima, however, called for the unity of Nigerians to overcome the challenges bedeviling the country.

He said, “We have to make this country work. Nigerians would not need to go through Libya to get to Europe for survival. I believe if we are united Nigeria will survive and that is why I am proud of the Rotary club.”

Shettima also urged Nigerians to dedicate their lives to service to humanity, adding that ‘individualism, and worship of money’ were making life unpleasant in the country.


He said, “Every lifetime, that has been dedicated to professional excellence and community good, represents the type of life, that we must valorise, especially given how much we have become swamped, by an inordinate worship of the cult of money; individualism, and a crass materialism, that has increasingly made life so nasty, brutish and short, in our country, to borrow the words of the Political Philosopher, Thomas Hobbes.”

When asked about the jostle for the vice presidential candidate of the APC, Shettima declined comment.

He said, ” This is a non partisan event it will be an insult to make a political comment here. At the appropriate time we will talk politics.”

In his remarks, Ali called on the government to ensure Nigerians have access to basic infrastructures.

He warned that failure to do this would spell doom for the nation.

Ali said, “Unless all Nigerians have access to basic needs, we won’t be able to make it as a nation. We have abundant human resources but our souls are weak and malfunctioning.”