The Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led government 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.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Abiodun Dabiri, made this known at a news conference on Monday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, the state capital.
He further explained that the increase was needed due to 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 also said that 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.