The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has reaffirmed its commitment to sustained stakeholder engagement following the rollout of the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) on the Lekki–Epe Corridor.
Eko Hot News reports that the reform restricts operations on the corridor to medium and high-capacity buses, while mini buses known as “Korope” are limited to inner routes.
The initiative recently sparked public discourse, including protests by some mini-bus operators.
In response, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, convened a strategic meeting with stakeholders alongside the Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA).
Giwa explained that the BRI is rooted in the Lagos Strategic Transportation Master Plan.
He said the master plan prioritises structured, regulated and sustainable mass transit systems across road, rail and waterways.
According to him, Lagos remains one of Africa’s most densely populated urban centres despite its small land mass.
He stressed the need for deliberate and forward-looking transportation planning to manage growing mobility demands.
The Special Adviser stated that the government’s goal is to move more people efficiently through coordinated mass transit.
He noted that deploying larger buses reduces the number of vehicles on the road.
This, he said, will cut traffic congestion, lower environmental pollution and boost economic productivity.
Addressing regulatory concerns, Giwa disclosed that transport operations along the corridor were previously largely unregulated.
He explained that government intervention became necessary to ensure safety, accountability and improved service delivery.
Before launching the pilot phase, transport unions and stakeholders were invited to meetings to form structured groups.
This arrangement enables proper registration, QR code issuance, data capture and effective monitoring.
So far, 10 transport groups have successfully registered and are participating in the pilot phase.
Giwa urged other operators yet to formalise their activities to comply with the registration process.
He appealed to residents and transporters within the Lekki–Epe axis to support the reform.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to continuous dialogue as Lagos advances its transportation transformation agenda.
