The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has announced an 18 percent increase in fares under its bus reform initiative (BRI) scheme.

 

In a statement on Thursday, LAMATA said the fare adjustment was necessary due to rising operational costs and to ensure the continued availability of bus services for commuters in Lagos.

 

According to the transport authority, the new fare structure will take effect from February 17, 2025.

 

“The fare rise is because of the increase in the cost of operations and the need to ensure that buses keep running and guarantee your movement around Lagos,” the statement read.

 

“We seek your understanding and cooperation.”

 

On June 30, 2022, LAMATA announced that the Lagos state government approved an increase of N100 for fares on all routes of the bus rapid transit (BRT).

 

The authority said the decision to hike the fares was reached due to the rising cost of diesel and the high number of buses that were out of operation due to the lack of spare parts.

 

In an interview with TheCable on January 5, Fola Tinubu, the managing director (MD) of Primero Transport Services Limited, an operator of the Lagos BRT scheme, said his company would subscribe to the compressed natural gas (CNG) initiative of the federal government by converting its buses to CNG to save cost.

 

In the interview, Tinubu emphatically said the move would not lead to a reduction in fares as the firm seeks to be profitable.