Sanwo-Olu raises BRT Prices by N100. 

Recent price increases for the commodities needed for reliable service delivery had frustrated the transport scheme’s operators.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

For all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Standard Routes in the state, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has authorized an N100 flat-rate increase in bus tickets.

This was revealed in a statement released by Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi, Assistant Director, Corporate Communication, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), on Thursday, June 30, 2022, in Lagos.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the hike, which would become effective on July 13, 2022, was made in order to maintain the operations of the regulated bus services in Lagos State, according to NAN.

Ojelabi said, “The increase, which will come into effect on July 13, is aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the BRT and standard route schemes.

“These measures are indispensable in the current global economic and environmental reality to ensure the sustainability of the BRI operation.

“With the increase, a bus ride from Ikorodu – TBS will now cost N600 from N500 while Berger to Ajah is now N700, up from N600.

“Oshodi to Abule Egba will cost N450 from N350 and Abule-Egba-CMS-Obalende will attract a fare of N600.”

The growing cost of the inputs needed for reliable service delivery, according to Ojelabi, has recently hindered the transit scheme’s operators.

According to him, the scarcity of replacement parts for broken buses has increased demand by reducing the number of buses that can be operated.

Ojelabi continued, “The enormous increase in the pump price of diesel from N187 to N830/liter between August 2020 and June 2022, greatly affected the optimal performance of the bus operating companies, leading to the withdrawal of buses from service and, as a result, longer waiting times at bus stations.”

The BRT representative said that a plan for a bailout for the bus operating businesses was also authorized by the Sanwo-Olu.

He said that the bailout fund was required to mitigate the negative consequences of the challenging operating climate, protect private partnership investment, and avert the end of formalized bus operations in the state.

Ojelabi said: “In view of the economic situation, the government is also providing support for the Bus Operating Companies in view of the continuous increase in fuel price.

“This is to ensure that the increase to the passenger is kept to a minimum. The fare increase notwithstanding.

“Government noted that whatever support this will provide to the operators, it will still not cover the cost of fueling, thus likely to put the continued survival of the bus operations on a tight rein.”

According to Ojelabi, the governor also granted LAMATA’s request to convert the present fleet of diesel buses to those that run on compressed natural gas (CNG).

This was a move, he continued, to more affordable, ecologically benign, and commercially feasible mobility energy solutions.