The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has announced an 18 percent fare increase for its Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) scheme, set to take effect from February 17.
LAMATA attributed the fare hike to the rising cost of diesel and the large number of buses currently out of operation due to a shortage 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.
This latest increase follows a series of fare adjustments in recent years. In 2020, Primero Transport Services Ltd., operator of the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), secured approval to raise fares across all routes to sustain operations.
The company had previously withdrawn its services due to financial losses caused by COVID-19 transport restrictions, which limited passenger capacity from 70 to 20 per trip.
Similarly, in 2022, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved a flat N100 increase in BRT fares to support the system’s sustainability. The adjustment, which took effect on July 13, was aimed at maintaining operations amid rising costs.
Further fare reviews were implemented during the Naira redesign crisis and following the removal of fuel subsidies, which contributed to inflationary pressures.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then