Your country's public transport system is not functioning properly. Write a letter to the Minister of Transport, highlighting the causes and suggesting at l...

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12, Ademola Street,
Ikeja,
Lagos State.
15 June, 2024.

The Honourable Minister of Transport,
Ministry of Transport,
Federal Secretariat,
Abuja.

Dear Sir,

THE POOR STATE OF OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM

I write, with all sense of responsibility, to draw your attention to the deplorable condition of the public transport system in our country and to suggest measures that may restore it to good working order.

The problem has grown from bad to worse in recent years. Commuters now spend several hours at bus stops before securing a vehicle, and the few buses available are old, overloaded and unsafe. Several factors are responsible for this. First, the fleet of publicly owned buses is grossly inadequate and poorly maintained, so that vehicles break down almost daily. Secondly, our roads are riddled with potholes and are hardly repaired, which discourages transport operators and damages their vehicles. Thirdly, corruption and the extortion of drivers by touts and some officials have raised fares beyond the reach of the ordinary citizen. Finally, there is no reliable rail or mass-transit alternative to relieve the pressure on the roads.

In view of the above, I humbly suggest the following remedies. To begin with, the government should procure a large number of modern, well-maintained buses and establish proper workshops for their servicing, so that the fleet remains roadworthy. In addition, our major roads should be rehabilitated and kept in good repair through a well-funded maintenance scheme. It would also be of immense benefit if the government revived and expanded the rail system and introduced an organised mass-transit service, since this would ease congestion and reduce fares. Above all, the extortion of drivers by touts should be firmly stamped out through proper enforcement.

I am confident that, if these measures are put in place, the suffering of commuters will be greatly reduced and the economy will benefit from the smooth movement of people and goods. I count on your kind and prompt intervention.

Thank you, Sir.

Yours faithfully,
Adewale Johnson.