The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has announced an 18% increase in fares for the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) scheme, set to take effect on February 17.
LAMATA cited the rising cost of diesel and a shortage of spare parts, which has left many buses out of operation, as reasons for the fare adjustment.
“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. We seek your understanding and cooperation,” LAMATA said in a statement.
This increase follows multiple fare adjustments in recent years. In 2020, Primero Transport Services Ltd., operator of the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), secured approval to raise fares to sustain operations. The company had previously suspended services due to financial losses caused by COVID-19 restrictions, which reduced passenger capacity from 70 to 20 per trip.
Similarly, in 2022, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved a N100 flat-rate increase in BRT fares to ensure the system’s sustainability amid rising costs. Additional fare reviews were implemented during the naira redesign crisis and after the removal of fuel subsidies, which worsened inflationary pressures.
As commuters brace for the latest increase, LAMATA urges the public to cooperate, assuring them that the adjustment is necessary to maintain uninterrupted transportation services across Lagos.
