Amid dangers associated with ‘hanging on buses’ along the major highways, Lagos officials have cautioned those engaging in the practice to put a stop to it, as traffic law prohibiting the act is still in force.
Hanging on buses has become a daily practice in Lagos.
Within the last five days, over 50 persons were spotted hanging onto the back of commercial vehicles also called Danfo. Tricycles and 22-seater buses, known as LT in Ikotun-Igando roads are also a means for those who are used to the culture.
Hanging on the back of buses in motion remains a practice many adults in Lagos also grew up with.
A driver who plies the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Yemi Falade, noted that he despised the habit adding that he always warns passengers to desist from it.
“When I use my side mirror and see anybody in the back, I look for a place to park and ask the person to come down. Most of them think I am a bad person but it is not my fault. The task force or LASTMA will arrest me. Most times, it is not the fault of those who engage in such acts, it is the system. There are no jobs and people do not have anything to eat. How do they pay for transportation,” he said.
Another driver, Mr. Rasheed, noted that LT buses need those who hang on buses to watch out for on-coming vehicles at their blind spot.
He said: “not in all cases will side mirror capture vehicles, some of the conductors stop and control traffic for us to enter different lanes. They are not small boys. We cannot stop them from doing their job. They are the ones that will settle the agbero and policemen on the road. They will also call passengers.”
A driver who plies the Oshodi-Mushin route, Saheed Ogunrinde, said: “Most of the time, it is not conductors that hang on the back of the buses, but those who cannot afford to pay transport fare.
“They never come to us before hanging, and we only see them through the mirror. Anytime I see such an individual, I always park and chase such person from the back of my bus.”
