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Commuters in Lagos State have expressed their feelings over the 18% hikes on Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) effective from Monday 17th February, 2025.
Our correspondent spoke with one of Lagos residents who resides at Oworonshoki area of the state but works at Victoria Island, Ridwan Gbadamosi, he said, that was not the best time to take such increment action.
According to him, "sincerely, this is not the best time for Lagos to increase fares because this increment may sooner or later be affected by water transportation too and that's exactly the reason for inflation of goods and services," he said.
Another worker Cynthia Ikechukwu resident in Ikorodu and work at Ikoyi also expressed her disappointment on the sudden fare increment.
She said "I'm so disappointed in the sudden increment because this is only dividend of Democracy for common man and government doesn't want us to enjoy anything again.
"We have heard several reports that Federal Government has increased the allocations to all states government as a result of the subsidy removal so, why should they be complaining about maintenance again?" she retorted.
Recall that, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) had on Thursday announced increment on the fares of the Bus Rapid Transit better known as BRT.
A notice posted by LAMATA on Thursday afternoon said the 18 per cent increment would begin next 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.
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