Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced a 30% reduction in fares for the Lagos Red Line rail service, lowering ticket prices from N1,500 to N1,000......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
The governor made the announcement on Tuesday during the commissioning of the newly completed Abule Egba Bus Terminal.
The Red Line commenced full passenger operations in October 2024. The first phase spans 27 kilometers and includes eight stations at Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, Iju, and Agbado.
The initial phase of the project was commissioned by President Bola Tinubu in February 2024.
Once fully completed, the Red Line will cover 37 kilometers, running from Agbado to Marina, with 13 stations, including Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, MMIA International, MMIA Domestic, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute-Metta, Iddo, Ebute Ero, and Marina.
According to the fare structure announced by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in October 2024, a trip from Agege to Ikeja cost N500, while Agbado or Iju to Agege was also N500.
A journey from Agege to Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, or Oyingbo cost N1,000. Ikeja to Oshodi was N500, as was Oshodi to Mushin, Mushin to Yaba, and Yaba to Oyingbo. The longest route, Agbado to Oyingbo, was N1,500 before the recent reduction.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore previously criticized the fare structure, arguing that it was unaffordable for average residents and civil servants.
He highlighted the disparity between Lagos State’s N85,000 minimum wage and the N1,500 per trip fare, noting that a commuter using the Red Line daily would spend approximately N60,000 per month—over 70 percent of their salary—on transportation alone.
“Yesterday the Lagos state Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu launched a Redline train with fanfare, it costs N1,500 per trip, N15k per week, N60k monthly, also he launched Lagos’s minimum wage at N85k per month. If workers take the redline to work, THEN!?,” Sowore wrote in a social media post.
With the newly announced fare reduction, Lagos residents will now pay N1,000 instead of N1,500.