By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Operators of the Mile 12 to CMS and the Ikotun-Igando-Iyana-Ipaja-Maryland Bus Franchise Scheme, BFS will deploy 240 buses on Sunday, November 6, 2011, for a free bus service during the Muslim celebration of Id-el–Kabir, while the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT corridor would be serviced with 190 buses, the BFS corridor would have 50 buses in operation.

Meanwhile, the Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji has urged Muslims to continue to thank the Almighty Allah, while equally praying fervently to Him to continue to spare “our lives, bless us all, and bless our country Nigeria.”

On the free bus ride, Managing Director of LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who spoke through the Public Relations Officer of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mr. Kola Ojelabi, the regulator of the two bus services, said the BRT scheme would cover such routes as Mile to CMS, Mile 12 to Obalende, Ajah to National Stadium, Ajah to Obalende and Mile 12 to National Stadium.

Other routes the BRT would cover are Mile 12 to National Stadium, Oshodi to Obalende, and Oshodi to National Stadium.

The BFS operation would cover Ikotun – Ikeja – Maryland, Iyana Ipaja – Maryland, Ikotun – Iyana Ipaja, Igando – Iyana Ipaja, Igando – Ikeja and Igando – Maryland.

He urged Lagos residents to take full advantage of the gesture of the Lagos State Government by remaining law-abiding while enjoying the free bus service.

Mobereola added tha LAMATA was working on extending bus services to all parts of the Lagos metropolis and informed that the current BRT from Mile 12 to CMS would soon be extended to Ikorodu town, a development he said raises the hope for other areas not currently served by any form of regulated bus services.

Ikuforiji in his Sallah message yesterday, also urged the political leadership in the country to always put the overall interest of the people first, since it is their votes that made it possible for them to occupy their enviable positions, stressing that necessary steps must be taken by leaders in the country to make life more meaningful for the people henceforth.

He said: “As we therefore celebrate this season, it has become imperative for the political leadership to be more patriotic and take the necessary steps to make Nigeria self-sustaining in food production and also ensure that we refine our God given petroleum locally.

“This will definitely bring to an end, the present large-scale unemployment and poverty that has continued to make life unbearable for all working class Nigerians and the youths, who are indeed the leaders of tomorrow.

“Enormous efforts must also be made by the political leadership at comforting all our citizens that are finding life rather unbearable, show mercy and love for all.

“It is also mandatory for the leadership at the federal level to always strive to devolve more powers and resources to the states and local government councils since they are closer to the people.

“It is equally important for all Nigerians to embrace all the positive values like love, perseverance, selflessness and patriotism, without which our great country Nigeria may never emerge as a truly developed and blessed nation that she is destined to become.

I therefore wish to congratulate all Nigerian Muslims for the grace of being alive to witness yet another joyous Eid-EL-Kabir celebration”.