Lagos Set to Boost BRT Capacity with New Articulated Buses
Lagos, Nigeria – The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has revealed plans to introduce articulated buses to its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, aiming to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the city’s public transport system.
LAMATA’s Managing Director, Abimbola Akinajo, shared the initiative during a recent episode of the Mobility Redefined podcast, hosted by Modaxo, a transport technology company. While no specific timeline was provided, Akinajo emphasized that the deployment of articulated buses—longer vehicles with a flexible joint for increased passenger capacity—aligns with Lagos State’s goal to strengthen its regulated mass transit network.
“We are focused on expanding our BRT routes by increasing our fleet and exploring articulated buses for dedicated corridors,” Akinajo stated. “These vehicles can significantly boost capacity on our existing lanes.”
The initiative is a key component of the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), which seeks to reduce dependence on informal minibus operators, locally known as danfos. These minibuses currently account for approximately 75% of passenger trips in Lagos, with over 75,000 operating across the city. The state aims to replace many of these with 15,000 high-capacity buses to create a more organized and efficient transport system.
Akinajo highlighted that over 90% of daily trips in Lagos are road-based, underscoring the need for regulated, high-capacity alternatives. The STMP also includes plans for six rail lines, 14 BRT corridors, and over 20 waterway routes. The Blue and Red Lines of the rail network are partially operational, with ongoing construction to complete their next phases.
To ensure a smooth transition, LAMATA plans to integrate informal operators into the regulated system by retraining them for roles in first-and-last-mile services, enforcing standards like e-ticketing and vehicle tracking. Additionally, LAMATA is prioritizing sustainability by adopting cleaner fuels, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and waste-to-energy solutions, to reduce the environmental impact of public transport.
Further improvements include the rollout of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) to optimize bus scheduling and monitoring, as well as the construction of new interchanges to facilitate seamless transfers between buses, ferries, and trains. On the Blue Line, Akinajo noted that train frequencies are set to improve, with services running every 10 minutes during peak hours.
LAMATA’s efforts reflect a comprehensive strategy to modernize Lagos’ transport infrastructure, addressing both capacity and environmental challenges while fostering a more integrated and sustainable urban mobility network. Read More
