The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, has announced an 18 percent increase in fares for its Bus Reform Initiative, BRI, scheme. The upward review will take effect from February 17.
LAMATA said the decision to hike the fares was due to the rising cost of diesel and the high number of buses that were out of operation due to the lack of spare parts.
“The fare rise is because of the increase in the cost of operations and the need to ensure that buses keep running and guarantee your movement around Lagos.
“We seek your understanding and cooperation,” LAMATA said in a statement.
Recall that in 2020, Primero Transport Services Ltd., operator of the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, said it secured approval to increase its fares across all routes with effect to keep serving the people.
The firm had withdrawn its services over losses occasioned by COVID-19 new transport guidelines that mandated it to commute only 20 passengers per trip instead of 70.
Again, in 2022, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved a flat rate increase by N100 in bus fares for all Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, and standard routes as part of measures to sustain operations.
The increase, which commenced on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, was aimed at ensuring sustainability of the BRT and standard route schemes.
Further reviews of BRT fares occurred during the Naira redesign crisis, and when the removal of subsidy caused inflation.
The Lagos State government considered the downward review of fares then as “palliatives”.
