The Lagos State Government has approved a 13 percent increase in fares across all Bus Reform Initiative, BRI, schemes, including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and standard routes.
In a press release issued on Monday and signed by Kolawole Ojelabi, Head of Corporate Communication, the Lagos State Government stated that it “has approved a 13 percent increase in fares across all Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) schemes, including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and standard routes.”
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu granted the approval following what the statement described as “a passionate appeal from regulated public transport operators.” The operators, according to the government, “raised concerns over the sustainability of transit operations amid mounting economic pressures.”
The new fare structure will take effect from Monday, March 2, 2026. The government explained that “the adjustment is aimed at cushioning the impact of sustained economic challenges affecting public transport operations.” It added that “the review is also in line with the previously approved annual fare review mechanism.”
Officials further noted that the urgency of the review is “underscored by persistent inflationary trends,” revealing that Nigeria’s inflation rate closed 2025 at 15.2 percent, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Bus Operating Companies (BOCs), the statement said, “have continued to grapple with rising operational costs,” including “increased expenses for vehicle maintenance, spare parts, and staff salaries,” particularly after the implementation of the new national minimum wage structure.
The government also disclosed that operators are “investing in the procurement of new, cleaner, and more fuel-efficient buses” to “enhance passenger comfort and promote environmental sustainability.”
Reassuring commuters, the state government affirmed its commitment to “balancing affordability with the need to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient public transportation across the state.”
Kolawole reiterated the government’s resolve to keep the transport system sustainable while “keeping Lagos moving.”