The Lagos state government has announced the discontinuation of the 25% discount on state-owned transport services effective Sunday.
This was announced in a statement signed by the head of corporate communication of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Kolawole Ojelabi, on Friday.
According to the statement, the discounted fares would revert to 100% starting Monday.
The statement reads: “The 25% rebate on regulated public transport buses, ferry, and train ends on Sunday, 28th January 2024. From Monday, 29th January 2024, transport fare on regulated transport services return to 100%.”
The decision comes after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had announced a 50% reduction in transport fares for all state-owned transport services on July 31, 2023. This reduction was part of the palliatives introduced by the state government to mitigate the impact of the petrol subsidy removal and subsequent rise in commodity prices.
The petrol subsidy removal, announced by President Bola Tinubu in his May 29, 2023, inauguration address, led to a significant increase in petrol prices, prompting the state government to implement measures to alleviate the burden on residents.
In November 2023, the Lagos government discontinued the 50% rebate, but following appeals from residents, Governor Sanwo-Olu approved a 25% discount on state-owned transport services.
“Following appeals to the Governor, he has extended the passenger fare reduction by 25% across the regulated bus and rail transport services until another review is announced,” the state government had stated.
