Oshodi interchange: 4,800 passengers use Terminal 3 daily

By Edith Igbokwe

No fewer than 4,800 passengers moving to and from Oshodi – Berger, TBS and Obalende inward Lagos Island currently go through Oshodi Transport Interchange daily while the two other terminals are set to begin operations soon.

The Lagos State Bus Service Limited (LBSL), the management of Oshodi Transport Interchange makes about N960,000 daily on the routes.

As gathered by ECHONEWS, there are forty 40-seater luxurious buses plying the routes daily as against 825 earlier projected with each passenger paying N200 as fare.

With three trips, each bus conveys 120 passengers while the aggregate of the passengers by the 40 buses amount to 4,800 on daily basis.

Initially, it was projected that about 1 million passengers would be conveyed daily when the terminals are completed and commence operation.

Since it commenced operation at the Terminal 3 on May 2, this year, the company has witnessed increased turnout of passengers as the 40 buses were sometimes not enough for the teeming passengers who wanted to travel in those luxurious buses.

ECHONEWS learnt that each of the buses could only go on three trips per day, and that most of the times, not all of them worked every day. But at times, from 10am – 1pm there were fewer passengers and the buses have to go with the few passengers on ground to avoid delays…

It was gathered that LBSL currently has about 150 buses to convey passengers from Oshodi to any other places across Lagos State but waiting for the completion of other two terminals for the remaining buses to roll out.

Some of the passengers who spoke to ECHONEWS expressed satisfaction with the comfort in which they travel in the buses in terms of hospitality, saying they wished the government could maintain the service.

One of the passengers, who gave his name as Ola Benjamin said: “Right from the boarding point, there is orderliness. You go and buy you ticket, sit down to wait for your turn and board conveniently without struggling to board. I just wish the government can maintain this and ensure they ply other routes.”

Another passenger, Mrs. Titi Balogun said: “In fact, I enjoy their service. I’m now used to boarding from this terminal. I wish this could be everywhere in Lagos. The government should make sure there is proper maintenance of the buses to sustain services for a longer period of time and when worn out, they should be replaced for continuity.”

Terminal 1 which is for inter-state transportation is scheduled to accommodate 34 out of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for a start; Terminal 2 is for transportation to and fro Lagos Mainland while Terminal 3 is dedicated for the passengers on the Lagos Island