LAGOS GOVT ANNOUNCES HIKE IN BRT FARES, CITES ‘COST OF OPERATIONS'

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The bus rapid transit, or BRT, fare has gone up due to a hike by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

According to a notice published by LAMATA on Thursday afternoon, the 18% increase would start the following week.

“Please be informed that there will be an 18 percent increase in the bus fare on all Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) schemes,” part of the notice read.

“The fare increase is because of the increase in the cost of operations and the need to ensure that buses keep running and guarantee your movement around Lagos”.

LAMATA called for the “understanding and cooperation” of passengers amidst the increment.

The Lagos Government had in November 2023 cancelled the 50% transport fare discount on all BRT and reverted to the old prices.

“The 50% rebate in transport fare in the regulated transport system in Lagos ends on Sunday,” LAMATA said then. “The statement informed commuters that starting “from Monday, November 6, 2023, transport fare will return to the pre-2nd August 2023 rate.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had in July of that year reduced the transport fares for the state-owned buses and commercial buses by 25% on all routes.

The moves were parts of efforts to cushion the impacts of the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu government.

Sanwo-Olu also said then that the Lagos State Government was expanding its fleet of staff buses for workers in the Lagos State Public Service.

He said that the buses are ready and will be deployed through the office of the Head of Service of the state.