Fuel Subsidy: Governor Sanwo-Olu Slashes Transport Fare, Rolls Out Palliatives
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has rolled out relief measures to cushion the current hardship being faced by residents as a result of fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
Part of the relief measure is the immediate slash of transport fare by 50% for BRT buses and other public transport means operated by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) with effect from Wednesday, while commercial drivers would cut their fares by 25%.
The government will also distribute food items to vulnerable people in the State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Monday after rising from the State’s Security Council meeting.
He said the palliative measures would be sustained pending the outcome of the Federal Government’s decision on a number of relief measures it is planning for the citizens.
According to him, the State Government has procured and taken delivery of new high-capacity buses to raise the fleet of vehicles conveying civil servants from their homes to office and back.
He said the buses would be deployed on Wednesday, while unutilised buses in the public fleet would be deployed to complement the public transport operation.
He said: “In the course of the State Security Council meeting today, we reviewed the current economic situation that we have in the country, especially as it affects our residents in Lagos.
We have had extensive consultations with all the stakeholders in our transport sector, both formal and informal. We have come to the conclusion that both the State Government and the stakeholders will be supporting.
“Immediately from Wednesday, all public transport services under the control of LAMATA will be plying all routes across Lagos at 50 percent fare rebate of the current rate.
Route configuration and new fare validation are currently being done ahead of the kick-off of the palliative measures.
Commercial operators in informal transport services will be rolling out their fare reduction plan, which is about 25 percent.
They are meeting with themselves on the modality as we speak.
“We have also concluded the arrangement to increase the fleet of our staff buses conveying workers to their offices and homes. We have procured more buses to achieve this objective and the vehicle is being supplied already.
We are waiting to get the required number before deploying the vehicles to various arms in the public service. Extra buses will be deployed back to the public transport system to complement the services.”
He added that plans had been concluded with various stakeholders to distribute food items to vulnerable people in the State through effective distribution channels- including civil society organisations, Local Government authorities, Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Councils (CDCs), churches, mosques, and traditional organisations.
“We will be sending regular food items people consume daily, such as rice, beans, garri and all food products that can help cushion the effects of the current hardship on our people.
All the purchases of the food items will be done locally to empower local food suppliers and keep the benefits of the intervention within the local food market value chain,” the Governor said.
Sanwo-Olu urged the private sector to take similar actions to help their workers cope in the current situation.
He also noted that the salaries of workers had been increased since January.
“In January, without being prodded, Lagos State Government increased the salaries of its workers because we knew the cost of living had gone up. We knew it’s a lot on the people.
We didn’t wait for anybody to take this decision; our staff are benefiting from it today. “With these measures, we are being proactive as we can and be as responsible as we can to ensure that the Government shows its human side towards the people.
Anything that is required of us to do in cushioning the situation, we will not hesitate to do. Our Government is ready to make life bearable for our citizens at this critical time.”
In the same vein, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, shared the report on security activities across the State, noting that the Police Command had arrested 260 suspects through the newly formed Operation Flush.
The CP urged residents to go about their lawful businesses, warning that anyone who makes an attempt to disrupt the peace enjoyed in the State would be dealt with.
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