Governor Sanwo-Olu Reverses Course: Cancels 50% Discount on Lagos Public Transport

In a significant policy reversal, the Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced the cancellation of the 50% discount on public transport within the state. Effective from Sunday, the rates for public transportation will revert to their previous levels.

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LMATA) made this announcement on a Saturday, signaling a swift end to the discounted fare scheme.

LMATA's statement clearly conveyed the message to commuters within the state, revealing that, "The 50% rebate in transport fare in the regulated transport system in Lagos ends on Sunday." Furthermore, the statement specified that "from Monday, November 6, 2023, transport fare will return to the pre-2nd August 2023 rate."

This policy shift harks back to Governor Sanwo-Olu's announcement in August when he introduced a 50% reduction in public transport prices. The reduction encompassed various modes of transportation, including Bus Rapid Transport (BRT), Standard routes, First and Last Mile, Rail, and Ferry services. The move was a response to the economic challenges arising from the removal of fuel subsidies by the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu.

The removal of fuel subsidies had placed significant economic strain on the average Nigerian, prompting state governments, including Lagos, to introduce relief packages aimed at mitigating the impact of fuel price adjustments. Lagos State's response involved a 50% rebate on transport fares across the state.

However, in a surprising turn of events, the state government has decided to terminate the discount, despite the ongoing hardships and lingering effects of the fuel subsidy removal on the populace.