By Bose Adelaja
CITIZENS COMPASS —As announced a few days ago, the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), on Monday, January 29, 2024, resumed charging its normal fares at various loading points of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Citizens Compass reported that LAMATA announced that the 25% discount on fares across the Lagos State Public Transport System will end on Sunday, January 28, 2024.
The State government also said that the announcement marks the cessation of the palliative measure that was introduced in response to the removal of the fuel subsidy.
LAMATA issued a public notice on Friday, January 26, 2024, via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, informing the public of the discontinuation of the 25% transport fare discount.
True to the announcement, normal fares were deducted from the cowrie cards of various passengers at various locations.
For instance, after the 25% was removed, the sum of N800 was deducted from passengers plying Abule Ẹgba, Iyana-Ipaja throuh to CMS, TBS, Obalende and vise versa.
Similarly, the sum of N550 was deducted from the cowrie cards of passengers plying Abule Ẹgba throug to Oshodi.
Fares from Ikorodu to Oshodi, Ikeja and Fadeyi now attracts N500 while to Costain was N600 and N700 to CMS.
Passengers were seen in queues awaiting to board the buses.
Some passengers who spoke with Citizens Compass said more buses were available compared with before.
However, the cancellation of the 25 per cent rebate has attracted criticisms.
Recall that with the announcement of subsidy removal by the Federal Government in July 2023, the State government slashed fares by 50 per cent in order to cushion the effects on Lagosians and this lasted till the first week in November 2023, followed by N100 increase in fares across all routes but this attracted criticisms and the government quickly introduced the 25 per cent reduction in fares.
It will be recalled that last week, LAMATA said, “The 25% rebate on regulated public transport buses, ferry, and train services ends on Sunday, 28th January 2024,” stated LAMATA. “From Monday, 29th January 2024, transport fares on regulated services will return to 100%.”
