Lagos State Government Responds to Outcry, Reinstates 25% Discount on Public Transport

In a swift response to mounting public pressure, the Lagos State Government has decided to partially reinstate a subsidy on public transportation. The move comes after the recent decision to abolish the 50% fare discount on public transport implemented on August 2, 2023, sparked outcry among the citizens.

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Unit (LAMATA) officially announced this development via a tweet on Monday, confirming the return of the subsidy on transportation. The subsidy is set to take effect from November 7, 2023, and will remain in place until further notice.

Kolawole Ojelabi, the Head of Corporate Communication at LAMATA, issued a statement explaining the reasons behind this decision. He mentioned that the decision to revoke the 50% discount had been met with significant opposition, prompting appeals for its reinstatement. In response to these appeals, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed the implementation of a 25% discount on regulated bus and rail transport services.

The statement regarding the updated transport subsidy reads, “Following appeals to the governor, he has extended the passenger fare reduction by 25% across the regulated bus and rail transport services until another review is announced.”

Notably, the decision to restore a portion of the fare reduction was influenced by the sharp increase in the pump price of diesel over the past three months, rising from N867 in August to N1,300 in November 2023, representing approximately a 50% increase in diesel costs.

Starting from Tuesday, November 7, 2023, the 25% discount will be in effect, offering some relief to commuters in Lagos. The move is expected to ease the financial burden on public transportation users in the state, although further reviews may follow in the future.