Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has approved 20 to
50 per cent fare increase for BRT, LAGBUS and other franchise buses, with
effect from March 1, 2017.
At a news conference on Monday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press
Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos
Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Abiodun Dabiri, said the increase was
necessitated by the economic downturn in the country which had affected the
transport sector drastically.
He said, “As a result of the economic downturn, public
transport has been severely impacted as all related costs have escalated beyond
any financial projection.
“Although the government is focused on a strategic reform of
the public transport operations to create a world-class public transport that
is modern, cost-effective and safe, the government has to consider the request
of the operators for an upward review of bus fares due to the current prices
for some of these schemes, which have stayed constant for more than six years.
“The current financial crunch has seen average cost of
operations increase to about 110 per cent. With the cost of fuelling going up
by 71 per cent, oil prices up by 64 per cent, tyre by 90 per cent, continued
operations are threatened.
“In order to avert a collapse of the scheme, which currently
serves over 500,000 commuters daily, the Lagos State Government has to consider
the request of the operators for an upward review of bus fares. Consequently, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has
approved a fare increase for the operators effective from Wednesday, March 1,
2017. The average increase approved ranges from 20 per cent to 50 per cent on
different routes.”
Dabiri explained that in approving the fare increase,
government weighed the justification of the operators for the increase
vis-a-vis the effect on the commuters.
He noted that the government recognised the financial
difficulties currently endured by Lagosians and assured public transport users
of government’s commitment to protecting them from arbitrary increase.
The fare increase differs in various routes. For instance, a
ride on BRT from Ikorodu to CMS, which cost N195 is now N300, while a trip from
Ikorodu to Mile 12, which used to cost N75 has moved to N100.
Transport from Ikotun to Iyana Ipaja, which cost N50, has
moved up to N100 while Ikotun to Ikeja has moved up from N100 to N200. Igando
to Maryland is now N150 from the former N100, while the fare from Dopemu to
Ikeja/Maryland has moved up from N150 to N200, among others.
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