The Accord Party in Lagos State has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reconsider the planned removal of the 25% discount on public transport services in the state.
The Lagos State Chairman of the party, Mr. Dele Oladeji, expressed this concern in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Oladeji said that the current economic hardship, exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidy, makes it crucial for the government to continue the public transport discount.
He noted that this initiative by Governor Sanwo-Olu had significantly helped alleviate the suffering of residents, including workers, artisans, traders, and others.
Oladeji stated, “Removing the meagre 25% palliative discount on transportation on government-owned systems like BRT, Lag ferry, and blue light rail would be unfair to Lagos residents. In Accord, we strongly oppose this removal.”
He urged the governor to introduce additional palliatives in other sectors to enhance the quality of life for everyone.
“Governance is about the security and welfare of the people. It’s vital for those in power to show empathy to the masses during these challenging times,” Oladeji added.
The party leader also called for more discounts on healthcare, tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions, and Eko rice. He stressed that such measures would demonstrate Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to his T.H.E.M.E campaign template.
According to NAN, the Lagos State Government announced the end of the 25% discount on state-owned transport services, set to take effect on Sunday.
Kolawole Ojelabi, Head of Corporate Communication at Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), stated that fares would return to 100% on Monday.
The initial 50% reduction in fares for state-owned transport services, announced by Sanwo-Olu on July 31, 2023, was part of the state government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of petrol subsidy removal and the subsequent rise in commodity prices.
NAN
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