Lagos State Government Gives 25% Transport Discount Amid Public Outcry

The Lagos State Government has responded to public outcry by reinstating a partial transport subsidy through the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Unit (LAMATA). The subsidy, which was previously set at 50%, had been removed by the federal government, causing concerns among residents. In a statement by Kolawole Ojelabi, the Head of Corporate Communication at LAMATA, it was announced that the reinstated subsidy will be effective from Tuesday (today), until further notice. The official statement declared, “Following appeals to the governor, he has extended the passenger fare reduction by 25% across the regulated bus and rail transport services until another review is announced.” The statement emphasized the notable increase in diesel prices over the past three months, soaring from N867 in August to N1,300 in November 2023, representing a substantial 50% increase. Responding to the calls for the reinstatement of the 50% fare discount for regulated bus and rail transport, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed the implementation of a 25% discount starting from Tuesday, , addressing the concerns raised by the public.

Tears As 3 Die In BRT, Okada Crash In Lagos

Three lives were lost in an auto crash in the Alakija area of Lagos on Thursday. The victims, riding on two commercial motorcycles, were involved in a head-on collision with a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle en route to Okomaiko from Mile 2 in the Ojo area of the state. Reports say that the victims were returning home after a football match at Navy Town in Ojo when their motorcycles collided with the Lagos State government-owned commercial bus. The situation grew tense, with irate youths considering setting the bus ablaze, but the timely intervention of the police from FESTAC Police Station, led by Divisional Police Officer Balogun Gboyega, prevented a potential catastrophe. The body of one of the motorcyclists was taken away by their family, while the remaining three were taken to FESTAC Police Station. The BRT driver, who narrowly escaped a lynching by the angry mob, was also rescued by the police. The police revealed that many motorcycle riders were unaware that riding on the BRT lane from Okomaiko to Mile 2 had been prohibited since the commencement of BRT bus operations on the route. A police source emphasized, “The state government had outlawed the use of the BRT lane by okada riders or commercial buses. Some are aware but still choose to violate the rules, leading to incidents like this.” Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, stating that it occurred around 5:40 pm on Wednesday. “The crash involved a BRT Mercedes bus with registration number BRI 043, driven by Olubor Oluwasegun. The driver was on the Mile 2 BRT lane heading towards Iyana Iba when the accident happened. Tragically, three of the victims lost their lives at the scene, while one, Divine Omosowo, was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.  Two of the deceased were taken to the Mainland General Hospital mortuary in Yaba”.