Traffic Woes for Lagos BRT Passengers as Cars Block Bus Lanes

Passengers on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses along Ikorodu Road in Lagos spent long hours in traffic on Friday and Saturday. Private and commercial cars crowded the lanes meant for buses.

Some passengers who had lined up at the terminals before boarding found themselves stuck in traffic. This made using the BRT service pointless as they tried to dodge congestion.

I boarded a BRT bus at the Ikorodu terminal around 11 a.m. on Friday, heading to Fadeyi. The bus did not reach Palmgrove until about 2 p.m.

Heavy traffic was visible from Agric through Owode, Ogolonto, and M12 towards Ketu. Private and commercial cars were blocking the BRT lane, causing delays for the buses.

Some passengers who got on buses at Ikorodu around 10:15 a.m. were still at Ogolonto by 11:24 a.m.

The situation got worse on Saturday. Both lanes for inward and outward traffic along the Ikorodu corridor were heavily congested. This made it hard for BRT buses to move.

I also saw police officers from the Owutu Police Division helping private cars access the BRT lane.

There were no LASTMA officials around to enforce the rules for using the dedicated lane during this time.

The BRT corridor is supposed to give buses priority and reduce travel time for commuters. But the illegal use of the lane seemed to ruin that goal over the two days.

In a recent statement, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) said the lane is for BRT buses and other authorized vehicles only.

LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, noted that unauthorized vehicles included private cars, some military and paramilitary vehicles, and local government buses.

“The only exceptions are emergency vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances, and only when they are responding to emergencies,” the agency said.

LAMATA pointed out that the illegal use of the lane disrupts bus operations, adds to traffic jams, and puts passengers and other road users at risk.

The agency warned that the rules would stay in place and that offenders could face arrest and prosecution under Lagos traffic laws.

Penalties could include fines, impounding of vehicles, and other legal actions.

LAMATA urged drivers, security agencies, and government bodies to follow the rules for the BRT lane.

Mr Ojelabi told PREMIUM TIMES via text that the rules for the BRT lane clearly state which vehicles can use it.

He mentioned that an enforcement team under the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation has been set up to ensure compliance.

“We are working with traditional leaders and law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance, and we are appealing to road users through the media to obey the law,” Mr Ojelabi added.

The BRT lane is a special road for high-capacity public buses, letting them avoid regular traffic. The buses operate through a public-private partnership between the Lagos State Government and franchise operators.

The first BRT system and lane in Lagos was officially opened on March 17, 2008.