Lagos BRT Ridership Surges by 40% as Fuel Crisis Forces Commuters Off Private Cars

Lagos State’s Bus Rapid Transit system has recorded a dramatic surge in daily ridership over the past two weeks, with transport officials confirming a near 40 per cent increase in passenger numbers as the ongoing fuel price crisis pushes commuters away from private vehicles and commercial tricycles. The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority reported that BRT terminals across Ikorodu Road, Oshodi and Berger have been operating at maximum capacity during peak hours, with queues forming as early as 5.30 a.m. as workers scramble to secure seats before buses fill. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, responding to concerns about the pressure on public transport infrastructure, has directed LAMATA to deploy additional articulated buses on the highest-demand corridors, with emphasis on the Ikorodu-CMS and Oshodi-Mile 2 routes. The Governor also confirmed that the BRT fare structure will remain unchanged in the immediate term, offering Lagosians some relief from the relentless cost-of-living pressures driven by petrol prices that have surged to between N1,200 and N1,300 per litre. Transport analysts note that the BRT capacity boost, while welcome, may not be sufficient if fuel prices remain elevated into the second quarter. Calls have intensified for the Federal Government to expand CNG-powered bus procurement and fast-track the completion of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line, whose full network could absorb significant commuter overflow from the road network.