The Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the Lagos State Bus Industry Transition Programme (BITP), a major initiative aimed at improving public transportation in the state.
For many years, Lagos’ yellow danfo buses have been the main means of transport for millions of residents. The new agreement is expected to help modernise the system while allowing existing commercial bus operators to continue working under a more organised structure.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, described the agreement as the beginning of a new chapter for public transport in Lagos. He said the partnership shows the commitment of the government and transport unions to building a safer, more reliable and sustainable transport system.
The programme is being implemented by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). It is designed to integrate commercial bus operators, including danfo buses, into a regulated public transport network. The initiative aims to improve commuter safety, service quality and operational efficiency while encouraging more investment in the transport sector.
The agreement was signed by Lagos State Chairman of RTEAN, Samson Ajala Adepeju, and the association’s Secretary, Bolaji Kawojue, alongside NURTW Chairman, Mustapha Adekunle Sego, and Secretary, Usman O. Teslim. The Lagos State Government was represented by Permanent Secretary Olawale Musa and LAMATA Managing Director, Abimbola Akinajo.
Under the agreement, the transition programme will be implemented across Lagos’ eight Quality Bus Corridors. Transport unions will be reorganised into cooperative societies to enable their members become franchise operators. Bus fare payments will also move to a fully digital system, while LAMATA will continue to regulate all bus routes.
Four Quality Bus Corridors have already been selected for the first phase of the project. They include Iju-Ishaga to Abule Egba, Ketu to Alapere to Akanimodo, Iyana-Iba to Igando to Iyana-Ipaja, and Ojuelegba to Lawanson to Cele.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, LAMATA Managing Director Abimbola Akinajo said the agreement was the result of more than 30 months of discussions between the government and transport unions. She expressed confidence that the initiative could serve as a model for other cities looking to improve their public transport systems without excluding existing operators.
She said the formalisation of the transport sector should not be seen as an attempt to push transport workers aside but as a way to create a stronger and more efficient system that can be replicated across Nigeria and other parts of the world.
The agreement is expected to make public transportation in Lagos safer, more organised and more dependable while protecting the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of commercial bus operators.
It also marks another important step in the state’s efforts to build a modern, inclusive and sustainable transport system.
