Despite the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the increase in the fare of the government-owned bus service Lagos Bus Services Limited by about 46 per cent.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Assistant Director, Corporate Communication, at the Lagos Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LAMATA), Kolawole Ojelabi. He said the increase will kickstart from August 1.
The governor also gave approval for the LBSL’s request to increase the number of passengers per bus from 20 to 42.
Earlier, the government had reduced the number of passengers per bus as a result of social distancing that was important in the face of the pandemic.
Ojelabi stated that the approval was in line with a bus fare review plea by the bus operating company in the state.
The LBSL had earlier said that transporting 20 passengers per trip had resulted in only 14% utilisation of the buses, leading to a 72% drop in revenue, with the running costs not changing.
