Lagos BRT passengers endure hours in traffic as motorists take over dedicated lane

Passengers travelling on Bus Rapid Transit

Passengers travelling on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses along Ikorodu Road in Lagos spent hours in traffic on Friday and Saturday as private and commercial vehicles used the lanes reserved for the buses.

Some passengers who had waited in queues at the terminals before boarding found themselves stuck in traffic for hours, defeating the purpose of using the BRT service to avoid congestion.

This reporter boarded a BRT bus at the Ikorodu terminal at about 11 a.m. on Friday, heading towards Fadeyi, but the bus did not reach Palmgrove until about 2 p.m.

PREMIUM TIMES observed heavy traffic from Agric through Owode, Ogolonto and M12 towards Ketu, with private and commercial vehicles occupying the BRT corridor and impeding the movement of buses.

Some passengers who boarded buses at the Ikorodu terminal at about 10:15 a.m. were still around Ogolonto by 11:24 a.m.

The situation was worse on Saturday, when both lanes serving inward and outward traffic along the Ikorodu corridor were heavily congested, leaving BRT buses unable to move freely.

PREMIUM TIMES also observed police officers attached to the Owutu Police Division assisting private motorists seeking access to the BRT lane.

No LASTMA officials were seen enforcing the restrictions on the use of the dedicated lane during the period observed.

The BRT corridor is meant to give public transport buses priority over other vehicles and reduce travel time for commuters. However, the unauthorised use of the lane appeared to have undermined that purpose during the two days.

In a recent statement, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) reiterated that the lane was reserved for designated BRT buses and other vehicles authorised by the agency.

The statement, issued by LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, identified private vehicles, some military and paramilitary vehicles, and local government buses among those not permitted to use the corridor.

“The only exceptions to this rule are emergency response vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances, and only when responding to emergencies,” the agency said.

LAMATA said the unauthorised use of the lane disrupted bus operations, contributed to traffic congestion and endangered passengers and other road users.

The agency warned that the regulations remained in force and that offenders could be apprehended and prosecuted under Lagos traffic laws, regardless of their status or affiliation.

It said penalties could include fines, vehicle impoundment and other legal sanctions.

LAMATA urged motorists, security agencies and government bodies to comply with the rules governing the BRT corridor.

Mr Ojelabi told PREMIUM TIMES via text message that the regulations governing the BRT lane clearly specified the vehicles permitted to use it.

He said an enforcement squad under the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation had been deployed to ensure compliance.

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

The BRT lane is a dedicated roadway or traffic lane reserved exclusively for high-capacity public buses, allowing them to bypass regular traffic congestion. The buses are run under a public private partnership between the Lagos State Government and franchise operators.

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