Speaking on this, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lagos State chapter, lamented  the hardship being experienced by some Lagosians as a result of the restrictions saying that the action of the state government has shown that the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is an elitist government that is insensitive to the plight of the masses.

It said it is alarmed that the Lagos State government can commence the anti-masses move without providing alternatives to suffering populace especially traders, students and other low income earners.

It said it is surprised that the state government can commence the restrictions when the 800 buses it promised as an alternative means of transport is still lying fallow at the ports waiting to be cleared.

“We have declared that this is a fraudulent, ‘yahoo-yahoo’ government. It is a fraudulent government in the sense that they are making people believe that Lagos is already a mega city and smart city.

“In order to give that erroneous impression to the international community that they have attained that status and to continue to get the grant which by right every mega city get from the World Bank Development Agency, they have come up with this inhuman policy.

“Since 2007, we have challenged them to come and account for those money released from Brazil to support Lagos State’s claim of being a mega city which status you attain once you have a population of 10 million. Now they are treating Lagosians with disdain, saying because they want Lagos to become a smart city, Lagosians must suffer.

“When the Commissioner for Information appeared on television three days ago, he said they have 800 buses lying at the ports which are not yet cleared. This is a clear indictment of a government that puts the cart before the horse. What they are doing is worse than what is happening in Somalia where citizens are deliberately made to suffer for political reasons.”

However, Lagos State Government has rolled out 65 high capacity buses in addition to the existing buses as part of palliative measures to the restriction of commercial motorcycles and tricycles in parts of the State.

The Managing Director of Lagos Bus Services Limited, Idowu Oguntona, announced this deployment at a press conference in Lagos.

Oguntona disclosed that these buses, which started work today have recorded about 10,000 customers in the early hours of today, adding that the 65 buses will convey a total of 35,000 Lagosians daily.

He also disclosed that the buses will ply seven routes across the affected areas.

“We are here today to witness the official deployment of additional 65 buses into the bus service to basically ease the current pressure that may be experienced on Lagos roads.

“We have Oshodi-Ajah, Inner Marina-Ajah, Obalende-Ajah and CMS-Ajah. Addressing the challenge in Ikeja, you have Ikeja-Ojota, Ikeja-Ogba, Berger-Ojota.

“Those are the seven routes the 65 buses will be deployed on and the impact will be such that at least 35,000 Lagosians will be in a very efficient, safe manner across the Metropolis,” he said.

Speaking on the question of introducing mini buses to ply the nook and crannies of Lagos, Oguntona assured that 550 medium capacity vehicles for feeder routes will be injected as soon as possible.

He said: “We recognize the fact that some of the buses cannot go on the feeder roads, so the plan is to inject 550 medium capacity buses that can carry about 30 people and those mini buses will be deployed on the feeder roads, so there won’t be any significant impact.”