The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has suspended the movement of goods on all regulated public buses across Lagos, with enforcement set to begin on June 1, 2026, as part of efforts to improve passenger comfort, safety, and operational efficiency.
The directive was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by Kolawole Ojelabi, Head of Corporate Communication at LAMATA.
According to the agency, the decision followed growing complaints from commuters and operational challenges caused by the increasing use of regulated buses for transporting goods and heavy loads alongside passengers. LAMATA said the practice had negatively affected passenger comfort, safety, and service delivery across the state’s public transport network.
“The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has announced an immediate suspension of the movement of goods on all regulated public transport buses across Lagos State, effective June 1, 2026,” the statement said.
The agency warned that any driver caught conveying goods in regulated buses would be immediately dismissed and blacklisted. It also stated that terminal officials or staff found supporting the practice would face instant dismissal.
LAMATA explained that the decision was reached after a strategic meeting with heads of operations and maintenance of bus operating companies, where stakeholders agreed that the growing trend needed to be halted and properly reorganised.
The authority noted that the objective was not just enforcement, but the creation of a more balanced and sustainable transport system that prioritises commuters and improves order within the sector.
Regulated buses supervised by LAMATA include the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and other franchise bus services operating along major corridors in Lagos. Over the years, many commuters and small-scale traders have relied on the buses to transport market goods, travelling boxes, electronics, food items, and other bulky belongings, often without paying extra charges.
Because the buses were designed with standing capacity for passengers, many users had taken advantage of the spacious interiors to move goods as a cheaper alternative to commercial logistics services.
LAMATA, however, said enforcement of the directive would be strict and uncompromising once it takes effect, stressing that there would be zero tolerance for violations by transport operators, terminal staff, commuters, or members of the public.
The development comes as Lagos State intensifies efforts to modernise its transport system under its revised 2050 mobility master plan. The state government is shifting focus from road expansion to a multimodal transport network built around rail, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and ferry services.
LAMATA recently disclosed plans to modernise the public bus fleet with cleaner energy vehicles and improve last-mile connectivity to expand urban mobility and ease commuter access across the state.
