Freetown – Public transport fares for buses, poda-podas, okadas, kekehs and other commercial vehicles have been revised upward by 12.5 percent effective Tuesday, 8 September 2026, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation has announced.
The new rates follow the recent increase in the pump price of fuel to NLe 45.00 per litre. The Ministry said the adjustments were agreed in collaboration with the Motor Drivers and General Transport Workers Union and other key stakeholders in the transport sector.
The revised fares cover routes within the Freetown Municipality as well as provincial and across-border destinations.
Freetown Routes
Under the new schedule, several popular Freetown routes have seen increases. Examples include:
– Lumley – Regent Road and Aberdeen – Regent Road: from NLe 7 to NLe 7.9
– Waterloo – Bombay Street: from NLe 16.8 to NLe 18.9
– Waterloo – Tokeh: from NLe 35.1 to NLe 39.5
– Wilberforce – Jui: from NLe 15.4 to NLe 17.3
– Jui – Lumley: from NLe 22.5 to NLe 25.3
Other routes such as Lumley – Borbor, Mess Mess – Eastern Police, Wellington – Eastern Police and Brima Lane – Eastern Police have moved from NLe 8.4 to NLe 9.5.
Provincial and Long-Distance Routes
Long-distance fares from Freetown have also been adjusted. Key changes include:
– Freetown – Kailahun: from NLe 351 to NLe 394.9
– Freetown – Kono: from NLe 266.8 to NLe 300.2
– Freetown – Kabala: from NLe 224.6 to NLe 252.7
– Freetown – Kenema: from NLe 210.6 to NLe 236.9
– Freetown – Bo and Freetown – Moyamba: from NLe 182.5 to NLe 205.3
– Freetown – Lunsar: from NLe 126.4 to NLe 142.2
Additional district-level rates (Kenema, Bo and Makeni corridors) have been published for routes such as Kenema – Jendema, Bo – Makeni, Makeni – Kabala (mini-bus) and others.
Okada and Kekeh Fares
For okada and kekeh riders, the “pole to pole” fare has risen from NLe 6.1 to NLe 7.
The Ministry stressed that the new rates are proportionate and must be observed strictly. “It is very important for all to note that any deviation from the proportionate fares set above will be met by the full force of the laws of Sierra Leone,” the statement warned.
The document was signed by Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation Hon. Rex Bhonapha, together with representatives of the Motor Drivers and General Transport Workers Union, Bike Riders Union, Sierra Leone Commercial Tricycle Union, and the Poda Poda and Bus Owners Association.
Commuters are advised to take note of the new rates as they come into force today.
