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The Lagos State Government has addressed the concerns of some residents and commuters, as mixed reactions trailed the fares of the Red Line rail.
The PUNCH reports that the Red Line Rail began full commercial operation on Tuesday, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu leading the launch of the passenger operations, accompanied by members of his executive council and other dignitaries.
The event featured a ceremonial ride with commuters on the first fare-paying journey, marking the official commencement of regular commercial services.
The train kicked off with passengers from Oyingbo to Agbado.
According to prices the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority rolled out on Monday, Agege to Ikeja costs N500 on the train.
Other prices are: Agbado-Iju to Agege (N500), Agege to Oshodi (N1,000), Agege to Mushin (N1,000), Agege – Yaba (N1,000), Agege – Oyingbo (N1,000); Ikeja – Oshodi (N500), Oshodi – Mushin (N500), Mushin – Yaba (N500), Yaba – Oyingbo (N500), and Agbado – Oyingbo (N1,500).
While some passengers lauded the initiative, others who spoke with our correspondent during the first trips expressed concerns that the train fare should not be equivalent to bus fares.
“Trains are the cheapest means of transportation in most places but these fares are costly. It might be better to take a bus. The train fare should not be leaving us with an alternative to go for buses. Or what’s now the essence?
“Ikeja to Agege on the train is N500, by bus, it is also around that amount, depending on the axis,” a passenger, Babajide Aliu, said on Wednesday.
“I think it can be reviewed. Why should I pay N1,000 on the bus and still pay the same on the train? Nigerians need all the help they can get at this time. Air Conditioner (will) blow you on the train anyway, maybe that’s why,” another passenger who spoke on condition of anonymity, jokingly said on the train.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on the train, a commuter, identified simply as Adewale, who boarded the train from Oyingbo and alighted at the Ikeja station where the governor addressed the press on Tuesday, said the prices were okay.
Adewale said, “I stay close to Agbado so, of course, compared to the road, it’s cheaper. Coming from Agbado by bus today was N800 to Agege and then another N1,500, then another N400 to Alausa and then N1,500 to CMS. Now, let’s calculate all of that and then compare it to N1,500 straight trip.
“We all know what petrol is saying, we all know what the economy is saying. So I kind of think it’s fair and then now, looking at the experience, quite orderly, quite fast, one hour and seven minutes is a fair time, so it’s good.”
On X.com, users who commented on the post by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, following the release of prices on Monday, expressed concerns over the fares.
A user, @Morolayoogunmeru, said, “Imagine Agege to Oshodi is N500 when normal commercial buses cost N400 or less. Agbado to Oyingbo is N1,500 while the old locomotive costs N750. What help can this do? absolutely nothing.”
@ajisfola said, “We thought it was mass transit. @Lamata, this is very much too expensive. It should be reviewed downwards.”
Another user, @Tobapopoola3, also said “Very expensive pricing. Train services are supposed to be the cheapest compared to buses.”
“The comments here made me happy. Nigerians don’t accept anything less. This should serve as a relief to commuters and taxpayers whose money was used to build the infrastructure. @Lamataonline should redesign their pricing regime. Customer satisfaction is key,” @gabriel_bolatit wrote.
@Fakiaman said, “This is too much. The train is always the cheapest in the whole world. Why will the Lagos train be more expensive than normal buses? How exactly do you want to reduce the suffering of the masses? @jidesanwoolu, wake up.”
The spokesperson for LAMATA, Kolawole Ojelabi, could not be reached on Wednesday as his line was not connecting.
However, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the government carried out the project in the interest of the people, and not for profit making.
Omotoso, who spoke in an interview with one of our correspondents on Wednesday, said the train fares were fixed after a series of research.
He, however, noted that the government was open to a review where necessary.
Omotoso said, “Let’s be scientific about this thing. Before the arrival of the train, the state government was subsidising transportation on all our platforms, water, rail, and bus, first by 50 per cent, then later by 25 per cent.
“If the state government wants to ask LAMATA to charge appropriate prices, all of the things that our people are saying would have been appropriate.
“But honestly, a lot of research went into those prices. It’s not as if somebody just sat down and made a decree that from Agbado to Oyingbo, it’s N1,500. No, it’s not so. It was based on research, on scientific findings.
“I don’t want to start comparing. I usually travel from New York to New Jersey and I know how much I pay. In London, if you travel by rail, is there anywhere you pay less than one pound? No.
“All of the things that the rail services are using, they are imported, they are dollar-denominated. If you want to charge based on that, you won’t be seeing what we are doing.
“But the government has done this, they charge this amount because the government knows that Lagosians deserve to get everything that is good. They deserve to commute in air-conditioned cabins. They deserve to commute in services where their goods and whatever belongings that they are bringing on board are safe.”
He added, “I believe it’s because of the situation of things in the land. The economy is trying to get back on track. That is why people are complaining. So, I sympathise with our people who are saying that the fares are high. But I would like to assure them that the government will do the numbers. They have just started. If they find any reason to reduce the fares, why not?
“As I said, the government will look at the numbers, they will look at all the circumstances, they will look at all the situations. So our people should please give these services a chance and then watch it.”
