Oluwatosin Lamidi
Commuters using LAGBUS and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Lagos would face more hardship as Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, approved the commencement of fare increase by March 1, 2017.
The news prices ranging from 20 to 50 per cent on different routes plied by the buses were announced By the Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abiodun Dabiri on Monday in Ikeja, Lagos.
According to him, the increase was necessitated by the economic downturn in the country, which had affected the transportation sector drastically.
Dabiri explained the economic downturn has affected all related costs in the public transportation services which had escalated beyond any financial forecast or projection.
He said the current government was focused on a strategic reform of the public transport operations in order to create world class public transport infrastructure and support for operations that is modern, cost effective, safe and sustainable on the long run.
“The current financial crunch, however, has seen average cost of operations increase to up to about 110 percent. With cost of fueling going up by 71 percent, oil prices up by 64 percent, tyre costs up to 90 percent, continued operations is thereby threatened.
“In view of this, and with government responsibility to avert a collapse of the franchise scheme which currently serves over 500,000 commuters daily, the Lagos State Government had to consider the request of the operators for an upward review of bus fares. It is important to note that current prices on some of these schemes have stayed constant for mor than six years for some operators.”
He added that the governor had approved a fare increase for the three operators effective from Wednesday, 1 March, 2017. The average increases approved range from 20 percent to 50 percent on different routes.
Dabiri argued that in approving the the fare increase, government weighed the justification of the operators for the increase vi-a-vis the effect on the commuters, stressing that government recognized the current financial difficulties currently endured by Lagosians and assured public transportation users on the commitment of government that they would always be protected from arbitrary increases.
“The operators have been advised to improve their cost efficiency and effectiveness as it would be difficult to pass the entire cost of operations to the consumers bearing in mind that a lot of the users are now in low income bracket,” he said.
Giving a breakdown of the new fares on the LAGBUS routes, its Managing Director, Idowu Oguntona, he explained that a ride on BRT from Ikorodu to CMS which used to cost N195 is now N300, representing over 65 percent increase, while a trip from Ikorodu to Mile 12, which used to cost N75 has moved to N100.
Also, fare from Ikotun to Iyana Ipaja, which used to be N50 has moved up to N100; Ikotun to Ikeja/Maryland has moved up from N100 to N200; Igando to Maryland/Ikeja is now N150 from the former N100, while fare from Dopemu to Ikeja/Maryland has moved up from N50 to N200, among others.
The blue BRT operated by Primero Transport services now cost N200 from Ikorodu to Fadeyi and Ikorodu to Lagos Island is now N300 effective from March 1st
