Lagos Hikes BRT Fares by 18% Over High Operational Costs

According to the Lagos State agency, an 18 per cent increment on all the routes will take effect from Monday, February 17, 2025.

This will impact Lagos commuters who already have to contend with high cost of food and energy amid a wider cost of living crisis in the country. Businesses are also not exempt as many workers commute to their various destinations via BRT buses.

“Please be informed that there will be an 18 percent increase in the bus fare on all Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) schemes,” part of the notice read.

“The fare increase 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,” it added.

LAMATA called for the “understanding and cooperation” of passengers amidst the increment.

The Lagos State government had in November 2023 cancelled the 50 per cent transport fare discount on all BRT and reverted to the old prices.

“The 50 per cent rebate in transport fare in the regulated transport system in Lagos ends on Sunday,” LAMATA said then. “The statement informed commuters that starting “from Monday, November 6, 2023, transport fare will return to the pre-2nd August 2023 rate.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had in July of that year reduced the transport fares for the state-owned buses and commercial buses by 25 per cent on all routes.

The moves were parts of efforts to cushion the impacts of the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu government.

Mr Sanwo-Olu also said his administration was expanding its fleet of staff buses for workers in the Lagos State Public Service.

He said that the buses are ready and will be deployed through the office of the Head of Service of the state.