Akinwunmi Ambode Approves Increase Of BRT, LAGBUS Fares

Governor Ambode has approved a 20% to 50 % increase of the fares for BRT and LAGBUS, reports say.

According to punch, the increase is expected to take effect from March 1, 2017.

This was announced to newsmen the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abiodun Dabiri.

Dabiri said the increase is as a result of the current economic situation in the country.

He also added that the government is committed to protecting commuters from arbitrary increase.

The LAMATA boss also said that the government considered the plight of Lagosians while deliberating on the increase.

Dabiri said “As a result of the economic downturn, public transport has been severely impacted as all related costs have escalated beyond any financial projection.

“Although the government is focused on a strategic reform of the public transport operations to create a world-class public transport that is modern, cost-effective and safe, the government has to consider the request of the operators for an upward review of bus fares due to the current prices for some of these schemes, which have stayed constant for more than six years.

“The current financial crunch has seen average cost of operations increase to about 110 per cent. With the cost of fuelling going up by 71 per cent, oil prices up by 64 per cent, tyre by 90 per cent, continued operations are threatened.

“In order to avert a collapse of the scheme, which currently serves over 500,000 commuters daily, the Lagos State Government has to consider the request of the operators for an upward review of bus fares. Consequently, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved a fare increase for the operators effective from Wednesday, March 1, 2017. The average increase approved ranges from 20 per cent to 50 per cent on different routes.”

Also, there were reports that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode promised to banish yellow buses, popularly referred to as danfo, from the busy roads of Lagos.