Freetown, Sierra Leone – March 17, 2026 – The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, has officially implemented new public transportation fares across the country effective Monday, March 16, 2026.
The adjustment follows the recent increase in pump prices for petrol and diesel from NLe32.00 to NLe35.00 per litre.
In a press release, the Ministry stated that the fare revisions were agreed upon after consultations with the Motor Drivers Union, SLRTC (Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation), private sector operators, and other key stakeholders in the transport sector. The new fares reflect an approximate 9.4% increase on most routes to account for the higher fuel costs borne by operators.
Key Changes in Freetown Municipality
Intra-city commuter fares within the Freetown area have seen modest increases. Selected revised fares include:
– Lumley – Regent Road: NLe5.6 → NLe6.1
– Aberdeen – Regent Road: NLe5.6 → NLe6.1
– Waterloo – Bombay Street / Bawbaw: NLe7.9 → NLe8.6
– Waterloo – Tokeh: NLe28.1 → NLe30.7
– Wilberforce – Jui: NLe12.4 → NLe13.5
– Lumley – Ogoo Farm: NLe10.1 → NLe11.1
– Jui – Lumley: NLe18 → NLe19.7
– Grafton – Bombay Street: NLe11.2 → NLe12.3
– Calaba Town – Goderich Street: NLe7.9 → NLe8.6
Most short urban trips now cost between NLe6.1 and NLe30.7 depending on distance.
Provincial and Long-Distance Routes
Long-haul provincial and across-border services have recorded more significant adjustments. Notable new fares from Freetown include:
– Freetown – Kailahun: NLe280.8 → NLe307.1
– Freetown – Kono: NLe213.4 → NLe233.4
– Freetown – Kabala: NLe213.4 → NLe233.4
– Freetown – Kenema: NLe168.5 → NLe184.3
– Freetown – Bo: NLe134.6 → NLe147
– Freetown – Makeni: NLe134.8 → NLe147.4
– Freetown – Port Loko / Moyamba: NLe134.8 → NLe147.4
– Freetown – Matru / Bonthe: NLe157.2 → NLe172
– Freetown – Lunsar: NLe101.1 → NLe110.6
Additional provincial routes within districts such as Kenema, Bo, and Makeni districts — including services to Jendema, Segbema, Gendema, Pamalrap, Magburaka, and others — have also been revised, with mini-bus fares in some cases rising from NLe146 to NLe159.7 or higher for longer stretches.
Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles (Okada & Keke)
The standard “pole-to-pole” fare for okada and keke riders has increased from NLe5.6 to NLe6.1 per trip, aligning with the overall percentage adjustment.
The Ministry emphasized that the changes were reached through dialogue to ensure a fair balance between supporting transport operators facing elevated fuel expenses and maintaining affordability for the traveling public. Commuters are urged to comply with the new approved fares, and authorities have indicated that monitoring and enforcement will be strengthened across SLRTC buses, private buses, mini-buses, and informal sector operators.
This latest adjustment comes shortly after an earlier fuel price rise earlier in March 2026 and reflects ongoing pressures from global oil market dynamics on Sierra Leone’s domestic fuel pricing and transport economics.
