Commuters hail Lagos govt on reduction in BRT fares

<p>Dosumu commended the effort of Sanwo-Olu, but said the reduction in fares would have minimal effect in the state because of its huge population.</p>, <span>Commuters queuing for BRT buses in Lagos. File photo</span>, <h2>Some commuters in Lagos have commended the Lagos State Government for effecting the slash in fares on the Bus Rapid Transit scheme since Wednesday, describing it as a relief.</h2>, <p>They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos on Sunday.</p>, <p>Recall that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Monday announced that the state was effecting a 50 per cent slash on fares on the BRT buses with effect from Wednesday, Aug. 2.</p>, <p>The move was to reduce the hardship faced by commuters in the aftermath of the removal of petrol subsidy.</p>, <p>Sanwo-Olu had also said the yellow buses privately owned had also promised 25 per cent reduction on their fares from the same date.</p>, <p>A trader in Orile area of Lagos, Jude Emeka, who sells furniture, said he spent more that N4,000 on transportation from Orile to Oko-Aafo to and fro, before Wednesday.</p>, <p>He said that since Wednesday, after government directive on transportation reduction, however, he had been spending between ₦2,400 and ₦2,600 on the return journey daily.</p>, <p>Emeka said the reduction made things easier for him and commended the government on the move.</p>, <p>A teacher, Margaret Ajayi, who works at Onipanu area and resides in Iyana Ipaja, commended the state government for reducing the fares to ₦350 instead of ₦600, they paid before the slash.</p>, <p>She said it brought some relief, but asked government to make good its promises on other palliatives.</p>, <p>A resident of Osho Street, Shomolu, Kayode Kalejaiye, said he sells keys in Lagos and his children’s school was also in the area, so he was able to monitor them after school.</p>, <p>“Since the subsidy removal, I had been taking my children to school thrice in a week due to hike in transportation.</p>, <p>” I pray that the reduction in fa