From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:NIGERIA: COMMUTING A TEST OF ENDURANCE
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 03:07:28 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Science & Industry; Trade & Finance
Title: NIGERIA: COMMUTING A TEST OF ENDURANCE


an inter press service feature

by ebunoluwa okusanya

lagos, dec 8 (ips) -- despite the allocation of more than 30
million dollars to the transport industry to cushion the effects
of the economic structural adjustment programme, transportation
is still a nightmare for most nigerians.

long queues of commuters at bus stops, the struggle for the
few buses and taxis available, and the cursing of the unlucky
describes only in part the agony of the average commuter.

workers, traders, businessmen and sometimes school
children are at bus stops as early as 04.00 am hoping to
escape the early morning rush. some succeed, but most are
sentenced to a two hour or more wait.

getting back home is just as problematic. gridlock traffic
jams on the six-lane highways and flyovers of lagos means a
frustrating and exhausting journey that can last until as late
as 10:00 pm.

''i have to wake up early so that i can get to the office
on time or else i won't get to office until two hours after
resumption of duty'', says dele okuwa, a civil servant.

okuwa, who works in one of the local government offices
here told ips that office hours begin at 7.30 am, but adds, ''it
has become almost a normal occurence for people to come late to
work and get home as late as 10:00 p.m.''.

he says the non-availabilty of buses is the main cause of
lateness for many workers.

for those lucky to find buses, the ride is uncomfortable and
sweaty, with people crammed into every available space, well
beyong the legal limits.

fela anikulapo-kuti, a popular nigerian musician, gave a
succinct description of the problem in his song 'thirty-eight
sitting, ninety-nine standing'.

for taibat ibidapo, a trader at oke arin (a market on the
lagos island), the situation is exasperating.

''almost everyday i have to trek from oke-arin to
oyingbo, a distance of about three kilometres before i can get
a bus to convey me home'', the 40 year-old woman, told ips.

''i don't always have enough strength to cook for my
family after such a tiring trek'', she adds. (more/ips)


nigeria: commuting (2)

''sometimes my children would have slept before i get
home, what time do i even have to take care of them?'' the
mother of five asks.

but aside from the federal government's allocation to the
transport industry,  state governments as well as local
councils have introduced mass transit programmes to
alleviate the transportation problems.

ademola adeniji-adele, chair of the lagos island council
says nearly 900,000 dollars had been spent on buying a fleet
of 37 buses, with a further 50 added next year.

his government which operates the lagos municipal transport
service (lmts) will also buy an unspecified number of buses for
lease to corporate bodies for the transportation of their
employees.

this service, however, does not come cheap for the
companies who pay more than other commuters.

''the lmts realises about 200 dollars from each bus
every day,'' the local council chair disclosed.

however the new transport service has its limitations.
adeniji-adele says in cases where the buses breakdown, ''we have
to pack them for some time before sourcing money to import spare
parts''. (ends/ips/eo/oa/92)
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