From Monday, the Lagos State Government will stop the 25% subsidy on transportation fares across its regulated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Motorists patronising the buses are expected to pay the full fares on all routes.
The regulator of the government’s transportation system, the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) made the announcement on its official X handle formerly known as Twitter, on Friday.
Recall that on July 31, 2023, the agency announced 25% removal on all BRT to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on Lagosians but the Friday announcement said it will revert to the old fares.
This means that instead of N375 from Ikorodu to Oshodi, Lagosians will pay N500; Ikorodu to CMS will now attract N700 instead of N575, Oshodi to Abule – Egba will now attract N550.
EveryDay Lagos reports that the government announced N100 increase on its fares last year but this attracted public outcry and it quickly soft pedaled on it but with the Friday announcement means that Lagosians will now pay both the new rates and the N100 addition.
The statement equally said the 25% reduction of fares on all state-owned ferries and trains will be removed.
It reads, “The 25% rebate on regulated public transport buses, ferries and trains ends on Sunday, 28th January 2024.
“From Monday, 29th January 2024, transport fare on regulated services return to 100%.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on the 31st of July 2023 announced a 50% rebate as a palliative measure against the effect of fuel subsidy removal and had ran for six months.”
Recall that on July 31, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the reduction of transport fares of state-owned buses by 50% as well as commercial yellow buses by 25% on all routes as part of efforts to cushion the effect of the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the bus fare reduction was supposed to take effect from Wednesday, August 2, 2023.”
