Lagos State Government Slashes Transport Fares by 50% to Ease Subsidy Removal Burden
The Lagos State Government has announced a 50% reduction in the fares of all its transport systems, including buses, ferries, and rail, as a palliative measure to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government. The policy will take effect from Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Monday after a security council meeting at the Lagos House, Ikeja. He said the state government was working with the informal transport sector, especially the yellow buses, to also slash their fares by 25%.
He said the state government was aware of the hardship and suffering that the subsidy removal had brought on the citizens, especially in terms of transportation and food prices. He said the state government had prepared palliatives that would be distributed across Lagos to assist vulnerable households through the local governments, churches, and mosques.
He also said the state government had procured more staff buses for workers of the state civil service to make commuting to and from work easier for them.
He urged Lagosians to be law-abiding and go about their normal activities, assuring them that the state government was committed to ensuring their security and welfare.
He also disclosed that in another 30 days, vehicles and security gadgets would be provided to law enforcement officers to improve security in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, Idowu Owohunwa, who was also at the briefing, said 260 suspects had been recently arrested on issues relating to cultism and traffic robbery. He urged citizens to go about their normal business, as policemen had been mobilised to patrol and nip any possible threat to Lagosians in the bud.
