Subsidy Removal: Lagos Slashes Fares By 50%

Lagos has slashed fares by 50% over subsidy removal.

Glamtush reports that in a bid to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal, the Lagos State Government has slashed the costs of transportation of all state-owned transport systems by 50 per cent.

This online newspaper understands that the government also pledged to distribute foodstuff to the vulnerable in the state.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stressed that the state government is working towards rolling out these palliatives to lessen the pain that the removal of subsidy has brought on the citizens.

According to the governor, the 50 per cent slash in transportation costs by the government will take effect from Wednesday, August 2.

He added that modalities have also been put in place by the informal transportation sector, especially the yellow buses, to slash their charges by 25 per cent.

“We’ve had extensive conversations with all of the stakeholders in our transport system, both formal and informal modes of transportation, and we have come to a conclusion, which the state government will be supporting.

“Immediately from Wednesday, all public transportations that are being controlled by LAMATA, all of the high capacity buses, will be plying all the routes of Lagos at 50 per cent discount, and all commuters that will be plying these routes will start enjoying a 50 per cent rebate on the transport fares that are currently being charged on all of these routes,” the governor said.

He added, “For the informal buses, they are also going to make a pronouncement today, and I can say to you that we have agreed with them that they will be doing about 25 per cent reduction on their buses — all of the yellow buses that we have on the streets.”

Sanwo-Olu also said more staff buses had been procured for workers of the state civil service to make commuting to and from work easier for them.