Lagos residents have expressed growing frustration over what they describe as the increasingly reckless and aggressive conduct of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) drivers across major routes in the city.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, commuters and motorists urged the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to intensify supervision, enforce discipline, and retrain BRT drivers to ensure safety on the roads.
Many residents accused the drivers of routinely flouting traffic laws, bullying other motorists, and endangering lives with their impatience and lack of courtesy.
Mrs. Toyin Alabi, who commutes daily along the Ikorodu–TBS corridor, described the situation as alarming. She recounted a recent incident at Agric Bus Stop, Ikorodu, involving PRIMERO and TATA buses.
“Their impatience caused an accident and massive traffic gridlock. One of the buses even had its windshield shattered,” she said. “They drive as though they own the road—unpredictable and aggressive. You can’t drive near them without fear.”
Another road user, Mr. Kunle Aina, who frequently drives along the Yaba–Oshodi axis, said BRT drivers often display arrogance and hostility toward other motorists.
“They block smaller cars just to show dominance. It’s nothing short of bullying,” he lamented. “Even with dedicated BRT lanes, some still drive outside them, worsening congestion.”
Commercial driver, Mr. Ismail Adebayo, blamed several minor accidents on the recklessness of some BRT operators. “Unlike us, they don’t seem to care about vehicle damage or passenger safety. They just drive off after collisions,” he said, calling for government intervention.
For tricycle operator Uche Okafor, who plies the Ojota–Ketu route, BRT drivers have become “intimidating.” “They blare their horns constantly and force us out of our lanes, even when we have the right of way,” he said.
A pedestrian, Mrs. Abimbola Ojo, shared a near-tragic encounter near Onipanu Bus Stop. “I was crossing at the pedestrian lane when a BRT bus sped past me. I had to jump back to avoid being hit,” she recounted. She urged the government to enforce regular retraining and mental health checks for drivers, warning that fatigue and poor attitude were endangering commuters.
Responding to the complaints, Mr. Kola Ojelabi, Head of Communications at LAMATA, clarified that BRT drivers are not directly employed by the agency but by private operators under franchise agreements.
“They are employees of operating companies, not LAMATA staff,” he explained. “While we provide training, some drivers still misbehave due to personal attitude problems.”
He encouraged the public to report errant drivers, noting that each bus carries an identification number for easy tracking. “Once we get the bus code, time, and location, we can trace the driver. Many have been sanctioned or dismissed in the past,” Ojelabi said.
He added that dismissed drivers are blacklisted and barred from working with any BRT operator in Lagos.
Ojelabi reaffirmed LAMATA’s commitment to ensuring discipline and safety within the BRT system. “We are reforming the system to make it more commuter-friendly. The commuter is king,” he said.