The Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved a N100 price rise for all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus routes.
Starting on July 13, the fare hike will be in effect.
The development was announced in a statement on Thursday by Kolawole Ojelabi, assistant director of corporate communication for the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
Ojelabi claims that the decision to increase the rates was made as a result of the rising price of diesel and the significant number of buses that were out of service due to a shortage of replacement components.
He added that Sanwo-Olu has also approved a proposal of a bail-out for the bus operating companies in a bid to minimise the effects of the harsh operating environment.
“To sustain the operations of regulated bus services in Lagos State, the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved a flat rate increase by N100 in bus fares for all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and standard routes,” Ojelabi said.
“The increase, which will come into effect on Wednesday, 13 July 2022, is aimed at ensuring sustainability of the BRT and standard route schemes.
He noted that recent realities makes the operation of the buses unsustainable.
“For instance, the exponential increase in the pump price of diesel from N187 to N830/litre between August 2020 and June 2022, had greatly affected optimal performance of the bus operating companies leading to the withdrawal of buses from operation and longer waiting time at bus stations.
“The governor in consenting to the fare increase also approved a proposal for a bail out for the bus operating companies in other to cushion the effect of the harsh operating environment and safeguard private partnership investment and forestall the demise of formalized bus operations in the state.
“With the increase, a bus ride from Ikorodu – TBS will now cost N600 from N500 while Berger to Ajah is now N700, up from N600. Oshodi to Abule Egba will cost N450 from N350 and Abule-Egba-CMS-Obalende will attract a fare of N600.”
The governor also approved the conversion of diesel buses in operation to the use of compressed natural gas (CNG).
