In a statement released by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on Tuesday, the state government said fares of state-owned buses will return to a 100 percent rate effective April 1, 2023.
By Kemi Kasumu
Barely 10 days after the Governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Lagos State Government has announced its decision to discontinue its 50 percent reduction in the fares of BRT and small buses in the state.
Recall that in the buildup to the general elections early last month, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced a 50 percent cut in the fares of all state-owned transport services, adding that the measure was to reduce the hardship faced by residents as a result of fuel and cash scarcities.
However, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), in a statement on Tuesday, said fares of state-owned buses will return to a 100 percent rate effective April 1, 2023.
“With effect from Saturday, April 1, bus fare on all regulated buses — BRT, standard and FLM — shall revert to 100 percent rate.
“Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, had on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, approved a 50% slash in bus fares following the cash crunch brought about by the recent currency swap.
“Following the Supreme Court and Federal Government’s pronouncements on the use of old notes alongside the new notes and return of stability to the system, the 50% rebate is hereby discontinued,” the statement reads.
In the meantime, activities of agbero, which appeared to subside around the period of ruling party’s upset in the state, have resumed full blown as operators of commuters continue to shift the burden on helpless members of the public.
The DEFENDER investigations blames the hardship in Lagos on state-backed agbero’s indiscriminate taxes on transporters who now charge N500 for a distance that should be charged N100.
The cost of transportation in Lagos has quadrupled without commensurate rise in salary earning of workers.
When asked, the bus operators blamed it on the activities of agbero, who cannot be arrested by police because they are working for politicians in control of Lagos.
