In a bid to alleviate the burden on Lagos commuters, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has given the green light for the implementation of a 25 percent discount on regulated bus and rail transportation within the state.
This decision comes in the wake of the expiration of the previous 50 percent rebate that had been in place when the federal government removed the fuel subsidy under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
The initial 50 percent fare reduction, which had been announced by Governor Sanwo-Olu on August 2, 2023, had garnered widespread praise and relief among Lagosians, providing significant financial respite to daily commuters. However, this reduction came to an abrupt end on Sunday, leaving many residents astonished as fares for services such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and other regulated transportation modes suddenly surged on Monday, signaling the end of the 50 percent rebate era.
In response to the mounting calls from Lagosians for the reinstatement of the 50 percent fare reduction, Kolawola Ojelabi, the Head of Corporate Communication at the Lagos Area Metropolitan Authority (LAMATA), issued a statement late Monday night to address the situation.
According to Ojelabi, Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a bid to accommodate the concerns of the masses, has directed the implementation of a 25 percent discount effective Tuesday, November 7, 2023, until further notice.
“Following appeals to the Governor, he has extended the passenger fare reduction by 25% across the regulated bus and rail transport services until another review is announced. “Within the three months period of the rebate, the pump price of diesel jumped from N867 in August to N1,300 in November 2023 representing about 50 per cent jump,” Ojelabi said.
The extension of the fare reduction will undoubtedly come as welcome news to Lagosians who rely on regulated transportation for their daily commutes.
