Plentywaka, MiziBus, OPay’s bus-hailing innovation mark days for Danfo...but

“See my guy, if you enter this bus, ehn, you will know this life is sweet and we have been going through hell at the hands of these Danfo drivers,” Kayode Oloye, a videographer, told this reporter out of excitement.

He had taken a ride from Ajah to CMS with Plentywaka, one of the three startups bringing bus-hailing services to the bustling commercial city of Lagos. The other startup is OBus, a unit platform under Opera-owned OPay, and Mizibus.

The joy on his face is something anyone who does not have to face a Danfo bus any day would relate with. A ‘Danfo’ bus – usually yellow – is a passenger bus that operates in Lagos and carries approximately 16 – 18 passengers.

Although they play an essential role in moving millions of Lagosians from one part of the city to another, they have also left many passengers with lots of tales of woes. From constantly ‘high’ and drunk drivers and conductors to rickety and dirty looking buses that tear at passengers’ clothes, as well as fierce-looking touts harassing passers-by in the name of scouting.

Passengers have also reported cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and physical assaults by drivers using Danfo buses. Also, hundreds of them break down consistently on Lagos roads, leaving passengers stranded and vulnerable.

The Lagos State government under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had vowed to take a precisive step in reforming the Danfo bus system in 2018, following increasing complaints from passengers on their ugly experiences.

The Bus Reform Initiative by the government included a three-year plan aimed at introducing over 5000 air-conditioned buses to replace the yellow commercial buses. The plan was suspended after the governor failed to secure the second term in office. The current government under Babajide Sanwo-Olu have yet to release their transport roadmap for the state.

In the meantime, Plentywaka a subsidiary of Farmcrowdy, Mizibus OBus are filling the big shoes, amid little resources. Aside from the comfort riding in air-conditioned buses provide, there is also the convenience passengers derive from booking rides from their mobile applications. Passengers also get to plan their income around transportation in a month.

OBus

OBus was the first startup to launch following the success of its sister unit ORide in motorcycle-ride-hailing business in the state. Like ORide, OBus which is still in beta operates within the larger OPay super app and its services and mainly focused on the Mainland part of Lagos.