Lagos Govt spends N14.9bn to ease transport burden in six years — Commissioner
…Says Blue Line Rail has transported over two million passengers
The Lagos State Government has spent a total of N14.9 billion over the past six years to subsidise public transport fares, directly supporting over 60 million passengers and improving access to mobility across the state.
This was disclosed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, to commemorate the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Osiyemi noted that the fare subsidy, along with broader transport sector reforms, forms part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s broader strategy to reimagine Lagos as a modern, affordable and efficient megacity.
Providing data to support the initiative, the Commissioner stated that the average fare charged by the Lagos Bus Service Limited (LBSL) as of February stood at N542.66, significantly lower than the average N1,097.73 fare charged by informal transport operators.
“From inception, the LBSL’s average fare has remained N261.67 less than the market rate, culminating in a total fare subsidy valued at N14.9 billion,” Osiyemi said. “Between May 2019 and February 2025, LBSL has transported 60,882,000 passengers. At present, over 42,000 commuters rely on LBSL daily, with around 1,000 bus trips recorded each day.”
As part of the state’s efforts to build capacity within the sector, Osiyemi announced that the LBSL Driving School trained 144 new drivers in 2025 alone. This brings the total number of certified drivers for high-capacity buses to 3,537 as of 18 March 2025.
He also reiterated the government’s focus on public safety and environmental responsibility, describing public transport as the safest mode of travel in Lagos, with the lowest accident rate per capita.
“One high-capacity bus can replace up to 40 private vehicles, and cut down fuel consumption and carbon emissions by as much as 95 per cent,” he stated.
Addressing developments in rail transport, Osiyemi announced that three new train sets are scheduled for delivery in May to meet increasing demand on the Blue Line Rail. Since its launch, the service has already recorded over two million passengers.
“The first phase of the Blue Line, from Marina to Mile 2, is now in full commercial operation. Work on the second phase, extending to Okokomaiko, commenced in December and is expected to carry up to 500,000 passengers daily once completed,” he said.
Osiyemi reaffirmed the state’s intention to maintain affordable fares and elevate service standards through the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and other transport-focused initiatives.
“Efficient public transport not only improves safety and security for commuters, but also alleviates traffic congestion and underpins long-term economic and environmental resilience,” he added.
