In a recent announcement, the Lagos State Government, under the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), has introduced a 25% discount on all Lagos State Public Transport System fares.
This decision, communicated via an official notice on LAMATA’s social media account, takes effect from Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
This move follows the conclusion of the 50% transport fare discount, which was initially initiated on August 2, 2023, in response to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive.
The reduction was introduced to alleviate the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy. The recent decision to continue a 25% discount was made in response to appeals for the reinstatement of a 50% rebate for LAMATA-controlled bus and rail transport.
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized that the extension was necessary due to the surge in the pump price of diesel from N867 in August to N1,300 in November 2023, representing a significant 50% increase within the three-month period of the initial rebate.
It’s essential to note that this reduction affects state-owned buses by 50% and commercial yellow buses by 25% on all routes. Additionally, the Lagos State Government is expanding the fleet of staff buses for workers in the Lagos State Public Service to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.
This proactive step by the government aims to support commuters and ease the financial burden on the public, ensuring continued access to affordable public transportation in Lagos State. Stay tuned for further updates on this ongoing initiative.