TheCable

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has approved an increase in the fare for buses operated by Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL).

Kolawole Ojelabi, the assistant director, corporate communication, at the Lagos Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LAMATA), announced the new fare regime in a statement on Monday.

The new fare which was increased by 46 percent will take effect from August 1.

Ojelabi said Sanwo-Olu gave the approval following a passionate plea by the bus operating company on the need to sustain its operation following the negative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said LBSL had argued that conveying no more than 20 passengers per bus on each trip had resulted in only 14 percent utilisation of the busload factor.

The company said the percentage of the bus utilisation had led to a 72 percent drop in revenue while running costs remained fairly the same.

The LAMATA official said the bus operators were granted approval to increase passengers from 20 to 24.

“Besides, the Governor also approved LBSL’s request to increase the number of passengers per bus from 20 to 42 in strict observance of updated COVID19 protocol as directed by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the operation of public transport, whilst ensuring all other measures are in place,” the statement read.

Ojelabi added that the fare increase would improve LBSL’s operational efficiency and place the bus operating company on the path to sustainability in the medium to long term

He said the governor also granted LBSL buses access to bus lanes in the states which were exclusively dedicated to Primero Bus Services Limited, the operators of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses.

In May, Fola Tinubu, managing director of Primero Transport Services Limited, said it is impossible for the company to break-even by carrying only 20 commuters.

The company later secured the state government’s approval to increase its fares across all routes.