By Damilare Adeleye
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has approved fresh implementation of a 25 per cent discount on fares for regulated bus and rail transportation systems across routes in the state.
It was learnt that ”the implementation takes effect from Tuesday, November 7, 2023.”
The directive came in response to public outcry on Monday, following the cancellation of the 50 per cent rebate on fares for regulated bus, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and rail transport in the state.
It could be recalled that the state government, last weekend announced a reversion to the old rate in public transport fares in the state
A statement by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) signed by Kolawole Ojelabi, Head of Corporate Communication, informed commuters of a plan to return to the pre-August 2, 2023 rate from Monday, November 6, 2023.
The state Governor, Sanwo-Olu, August, announced a 50 per cent reduction in prices of public transport services including the BRT Standard routes, First and Last Mile, Rail and Ferry to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy earlier removed by President Bola Tinubu.
However, while speaking on Monday on the 25 per cent rebate, Ojelabi said, “Following appeals to the Governor, he has extended the passenger fare reduction by 25 per cent across the regulated bus and rail transport services until another review is announced.
“Within the three months 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.”