The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has responded to concerns about the availability of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses, following a report by The Record highlighting commuters’ frustrations.
In response to mounting complaints, LAMATA hosted a delegation from the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) on Wednesday to discuss the challenges facing the public transport system.
According to a statement by LAMATA, the PCC delegation led by Commissioner Hafeez Odunewu and Director of Investigations Ayinde Wale visited the agency to gather firsthand insights into the reported issues.
“The primary concerns centered on the availability of buses and the extended waiting times experienced by commuters on various routes,” the statement read.
LAMATA’s response, plans for improvement
During the visit, LAMATA Managing Director, Abimbola Akinajo, acknowledged the challenges and outlined ongoing efforts to improve the situation. She noted that the agency is working with private sector partners to expand the BRT fleet and enhance service efficiency.
As part of this expansion, Akinajo further shared that LAMATA expects to introduce 500 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and 50 electric vehicles by the last quarter of the year. However, she highlighted that Lagos requires approximately 15,000 buses to meet commuter demand, while the current operational fleet remains just over 1,000.
Calls for urgent action
The PCC delegation commended LAMATA for its transparency but urged the agency to expedite efforts to alleviate commuter hardships.
Meanwhile, Lagos commuters continue to struggle with long queues and fare hikes.
The Record recently reported on the difficulties faced by daily BRT users, including digital marketer Wani Ojo, who described waiting over an hour for a bus from Oshodi to Abule-Egba.
@ikejarecord Is there a shortage of BRT buses in Lagos? We looked into this growing transport issue. Here’s what we found. #brtbusesinlagos #brtbuses #lamata #lagosnews #ikejarecord ♬ original sound – Ikeja Record
“The return trip from Abule-Egba to Oshodi is easier because the morning rush has eased,” she told The Record. “But getting back to the Island is a struggle. Last week, I waited from 1pm to almost 4pm for a bus. I got home late at night.”
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