As part of efforts to cushion the hardships occasioned by the current fuel scarcity and cash crunch, the Lagos State Government has announced a 50% reduction in fares on all its transportation services for the next one week, beginning from Thursday.
These include, the BRT, LAGRIDE Taxis, First and Last Mile Buses, LAGFERRY, and all transportation services using the Cowry cards.
The State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu announced the palliatives while briefing newsmen on the state of the nation at the Lagos House, Marina.
The Governor also announced that food banks would be situated in strategic places for the most vulnerable in the state to ensure they do not go hungry as a result of the cash crunch.
“We are going to be distributing the food using the various stakeholders, religious bodies, known NGOs, ethnic nationals, to be able to identify vulnerable citizens within the communities and this will be going out to them later today and tomorrow,” Governor Sanwo-Olu announced.
He thanked the Judiciary for restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government from withdrawing the old naira notes from circulation, saying the move would ease tensions in the next couple of days.
He also disclosed that the ongoing reconstruction of the Buba Marwa road in Ijegun Egba has been temporarily suspended to enable the transportation of petroleum products from tank farms and for operators of filling stations to run a 24-hour service.
“There have been talks between the State Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) on the lingering fuel shortage,” he said.
“NNPCL demanded Ijegun Egba tank owners and operators unhindered access to the tank farms where about 40% of petroleum products come from.
“We have been able to do that by rearranging the timing of the work on the Buba Marwa Road, the dual carriageway that leads to the tank farms. The road is over 50% completed. Now, you would have noticed some improvement in the supply of petroleum products.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu appreciated residents for their “resilience and commitment”, as well as for standing firm and demonstrating confidence in the state government’s ability to protect their interests “at this difficult time”.
RN
