The Lagos State government announced that it will end the 25 percent fare rebate on state-owned public transport services, effective Sunday, June 2nd, 2024.
This decision, disclosed by the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on Saturday, means that transport fares will revert to their original rates starting Monday.
The fare rebate was initially implemented to cushion the effects of the Federal Government’s removal of petrol subsidies.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had, on July 31, 2023, announced a 50 percent reduction in transport fares for public transport services operated by LAMATA and Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), which took effect on August 2, 2023.
This fare reduction was later adjusted to a 25 percent rebate in November 2023.
In a statement, LAMATA said: “The 25 percent fare rebate on regulated public transport buses, ferries, and train services ends on Sunday, June 2nd, 2024. From Monday, 3rd June 2024, transport fare on all regulated transport services in the state will return to its original fare of 100 percent.”
The statement continued: “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, last February 23rd, announced a 25 percent rebate, extending the six-month 50 percent rebate that began on July 31, 2023, to mitigate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
“The rebate in regulated public transport system fares has resulted in the state government expending effort and resources in transport subsidies to ease the pains associated with the removal of fuel subsidy effected last year May.”