The authority said the measure is aimed at promoting accountability, transparency and full compliance with its cashless fare payment system across regulated transport operations.

This was discussed on LAMATA X space with key stakeholders, transport leaders on the topic, ‘’Lagos Cashless Transit: What Aug. 1 Enforcement mean to You’’, on Tuesday.

Commuters were also encouraged to report any driver or conductor requesting cash through LAMATA’s official email and customer service phone numbers.

Head of Legal LAMATA, Mr Idris Akinola, said laws and regulations governing LAMATA required commuters to use the approved electronic payment method (the Cowry Card) on regulated public transport services.

He also referred to Lagos State laws that treated both giving and receiving unauthorised payments (which he described as bribery in this context) as offenses.

‘’This means both the person offering cash and the person accepting it may be held liable under the applicable laws, ‘’ he said.

Akinola advised bus operators to employ trustworthy drivers and conductors.

He also urged the operators to carry out random internal inspections to ensure staff were not accepting cash and support LAMATA’s own random enforcement checks on buses.

“Both parties, if convicted under the applicable laws, could face up to seven years’ imprisonment,” he said.

Also, Managing Director Teejay Motors, Mr Adekunle Tajudeen, said the company had held meetings and training sessions with its drivers (“captains”) and boarding officers on preparation for the transition.

“We have instructed our staff not to accept cash under any circumstances and have emphasised that passengers must use a Cowry Card.

On challenges faced by operators, Tajudeen said several TJ Motors drivers had previously been arrested and jailed for collecting cash.

He argued that passengers were encouraging the practice by offering cash, so enforcement against commuters was intended to act as a deterrent.

He said to avoid disruptions, they recruited additional drivers and expanded its fleet, so that removing non-compliant drivers from service did not leave commuters stranded.

On reason for enforcing the rule on commuters, Mr Adepoju Fawokon, a Public Transport and Urban Mobility Expert, explained that enforcing the policy only against drivers had not been enough.

“Since every cash transaction involves both the person offering cash and the person accepting it, LAMATA believes both parties should be held accountable.

“The goal is to reduce revenue leakage and protect the sustainability of the regulated bus system rather than simply punish commuters,” Fawokan said.

Addressing top-up complaints, Managing Director, Touch and Pay Technologies, Mr Olamide Afolabi, acknowledged that some commuters had complained about agents loading the wrong amount onto their cowry cards.

Afolabi noted that new technology to reduce disputes had been introduced, the Carry Hub and mobile app, where users can view recent top-ups and card balances.

“Self-service top-up kiosks at bus and rail terminals allow commuters to load cards without an agent.

‘’Mobile app top-ups work with tools to transfer the balance from the phone to the card,” he said.

He disclosed that there would be a postpaid/single-card system, expected to roll out more widely before the end of the year.

According to him, the system is one, where online top-ups will be available for immediate use without transferring funds to the card first.

The post LAMATA to penalise commuters for cash payment from Aug. 1 – Official appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, made this known on the corporation’s official X handle on Tuesday.

According to Opeifa, the temporary suspension will take effect from July 6 while the service will resume on July 27.

“The last passenger train service will operate on July 3, before the suspension,” he said.

He said that freight services to and from the Apapa Port Complex and other train terminals on both narrow gauge and standard gauge corridors would not be affected by the suspension.

“Passengers are kindly informed that the NRC operates the Lagos Mass Transit Train services every weekday (Monday to Friday).

“Morning services depart ljoko at 6.30 a.m. and Kajola at 7.00 a.m. for Iddo, while evening return services depart Iddo at 5.30 p.m. for ijoko and 6.15 p.m. for Kajola.

“Passengers may wish to take advantage of these services during the temporary suspension of the Kajola-Apapa (BAT) Passenger Train Service,” he said.

Opeifa said the corporation regretted any inconvenience the temporary suspension would cause.

He said that the maintenance was necessary to ensure continued safety, reliability and efficiency of the train services.

“We appreciate your patience, understanding and continued patronage,” he added.

The post NRC to suspend Kajola-Apapa train service appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, Mr Kolawole Ojelabi, announced the enhancement in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos.

Ojelabi said weekday and Saturday train services would now commence at 6.00 a.m., instead of the previous 6.30 a.m. start time.

He said the revised timetable, effective June 15, was designed to improve passenger convenience and reduce waiting times.

According to him, the adjustment will also cater to the growing number of commuters relying on the rail corridor for faster and more reliable transportation.

“Under the new schedule, trains will begin operations 30 minutes earlier from Monday to Saturday, enabling thousands of commuters to start their journeys ahead of peak road traffic,” he said.

He added that train services would continue to close at 9.30 p.m. in spite of the increase in daily operations.

“While the service will continue to close at 9.30 p.m., the increase to 94 daily trips is expected to further ease platform congestion and improve travel efficiency,” he said.

Ojelabi said Sunday operations had also been strengthened, with trips increasing from 22 to 24 daily services.

He noted that trains would operate at consistent 30-minute intervals on Sundays, providing passengers with greater predictability and convenience.

“The latest upgrade reflects the growing popularity of the Blue Line since passenger operations commenced on Sept. 4, 2023,” he said.

He said the rail system had transported more than six million passengers since its inauguration.

Since launch, the rail system has transported more than six million passengers, underscoring its critical role in transforming urban mobility and reducing travel times across the city.

The post LAMATA expands Blue Line services to 94 daily trips appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 159th meeting of the Joint Revenue Board (JRB), currently holding in Lagos.

The governor said the meeting brought together the leadership of the Nigerian Revenue Service, chairmen of the 36 state Internal Revenue Services, and the Federal Capital Territory.

He noted that the state was pleased to host the participants, who are expected to remain in Lagos till the end of the week, engaging in knowledge sharing and policy discussions.

On transportation, Sanwo-Olu said that the state had recently completed the signing-off process for the Red Line rolling stock during an official visit abroad.

He explained that the Red Line Rail would be a major upgrade in capacity compared to the Blue Line.

“The beauty of the Red Line is that it is twice as large as the Blue Line. While the Blue Line operates four-car trains, the Red Line will run eight-car trains.

“At full capacity, it will be able to move up to 500,000 passengers daily along the corridor from Agbado to Oyingbo,” he said.

The governor added that discussions were ongoing to extend the rail service further into neighbouring Ogun State to accommodate more commuters.

He recalled that additional rolling stock had earlier been procured for the Blue Line, noting that similar investments were being replicated on the Red Line to strengthen the state’s rail infrastructure.

Sanwo-Olu said the rail projects formed part of a broader multi-modal transport strategy aimed at improving mobility across Lagos.

He also highlighted ongoing interventions in the waterways sector, including the Omi Eko project, which is expected to introduce high-capacity electric boats.

“By this time next year, residents will begin to see increased activity on our waterways with the deployment of electric boats to complement existing transport systems,” he said.

According to him, the integration of rail, road and water transport is designed to ensure efficient movement of people across the state while supporting economic growth.

He added that improved transportation infrastructure would ultimately enhance productivity and boost revenue generation for the state.

The post Red line rail to move 500,000 commuters daily – Sanwo-Olu appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Akerele gave the reassurance during a quarterly media parley held at its headquarters in Oshodi on Tuesday,

He also warned against false reports by the media, urging that proper verifications be made before publication.

The chairman noted that some members of the public and media outlets had wrongly conflated the taskforce’s activities with those of other government agencies, especially with regards to enforcement along the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.

“The rules governing the corridor are not for the benefit of the taskforce or any agency, but for the larger Lagos population.

“Our interventions aim to ensure safety, convenience, and peace of mind for Lagosians, “he said

Akerele also addressed a recent controversy surrounding a video circulated by an online television platform, claiming that taskforce officials had hijacked a vehicle and drove same on a one-way.

“An internal investigation confirmed the videos were misleading, showing that the vehicle had been impounded for driving against traffic and the operatives provided video evidence showing the driver attempted to escape.

“The online television media appears to be attempting to use its platform to exert undue influence and pressure the agency for personal gain, ” he said.

He said that it was important for journalists to verify facts carefully before posting content that could tarnish the image of the agency.

In addition, he addressed public concern on allegations of extortion by the taskforce, emphasising that the taskforce operated within the law.

According to him, no single individual’s interest should act against the collective mandate of the taskforce.

Meanwhile, the taskforce boss announced that the state would resume its monthly voluntary sanitation exercises in April, to improve public health.

He assured that the taskforce would be fully involved in the process.

Akerele consequently, called for constructive engagement from residents and the media, stressing on the need for collaboration in maintaining a safe, clean and orderly Lagos.

The post Lagos taskforce clears air on BRT enforcement, faults media report appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

In a statement signed by the NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m.near Asham, involving a rear locomotive and a passenger coach.

He said preliminary reports indicated that the rear locomotive made contact with the rear immediately next to it (rear) due to a coupling issue.

‘Some passengers sustained injuries and were promptly attended to and taken to a nearby medical facility for proper medical care. No fatalities were recorded.

“Emergency response protocols were immediately activated, and relevant technical teams have been mobilized to the location.

“The Safety Investigation Bureau (SIB) is also on site to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident in line with established safety procedures,” he said.

Opeifa said the train arrived Idu station at about 10.39am, 38 minutes behind schedule due to time allowed to remove the incident rear locomotive and coach Sp 0006.

“The Corporation assures the public that safety remains its top priority, and all necessary measures are being taken to address the situation and ensure the continued safe operation of train services.

“Further details will be communicated as more information becomes available,” he said

The post Passengers injured as Abuja-Kaduna train derails – NRC appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Our correspondent reports that pump price of petrol was formerly sold between N835 and N875 in the FCT is now being sold between N1,200 and N1,350.

Following the increase, transport fare have been increased by about 100 per cent.

Some commuters who spoke to our correspondent on Friday, said that commercial vehicles operators had already adjusted fares upward, warning that the development could worsen the cost of living.

Mrs Ngozi Okeke, a civil servant in Garki, said the fare from Nyanya to the city centre had increased within days of the fuel price adjustment.

“Last week, I paid N800 to work, but today I paid N1,000. It may look small, but when you calculate it for the whole week, it is a lot,” she said.

Another passenger, Theresa Godspower, said she paid N700 from Nyanya to Federal Secretariat, instead of the N500 she previously paid.

A commuter, Mr Musa Abdullahi, also told NAN that he paid N1,200 from Masaka to the city centre, compared to the N700 he used to pay.

Mr Godwin Ameh, said the fare from Lugbe to Wuse increased from N800 to N1,000, adding that some drivers were even charging up to N1,200.

Mr Amos Badifu, a public servant, said transport fare increases often triggered higher food prices in markets.

“Whenever fuel goes up, transporters increase fares and traders also raise the cost of food items because of transportation.

” The fare from Kuje to Berger has increased from N1,300 to N1,500, even bike fares have also increased.

“I know that before next week ,prices of some major food items will have increased, as most sellers often look for reasons to increase price of their items ,” he said.

A taxi driver, Mr John Eze, said operators had little choice but to adjust fares to remain in business.

“Yesterday, I bought fuel at N1,250 per litre, but today it is N1,350. We have to adjust fares or we will run at a loss,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that fewer vehicles were seen on some major roads in the city as many vehicle owners have began to feel the impact of the fuel increase.

An economist, Dr Ibrahim Sule, said increases in fuel prices often had a ripple effect across the economy, especially on transportation and food supply.

According to Sule, transportation costs are a major component of the price of goods in Nigeria, particularly food transported from rural areas to urban markets.

“When fuel prices rise, transport costs increase, and traders usually pass the additional cost to consumers. This is why people fear food inflation may follow,” he said.

Sule advised government to strengthen social protection measures and improve mass transit systems to cushion the impact on residents.

He also said that investment in alternative transport systems could help reduce the country’s heavy dependence on petrol-powered mobility.

The post Petrol price hike; Residents lament rising transport fares appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

They questioned why marketers raised the price of existing stock before receiving new supplies.

Our correspondent reports that many fuel stations used to sell between N875 and N880.

Our correspondent reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is presently selling at N1,261, while other fuel outlets are selling between N1, 250 and N1,350 and above.

Investigations by NAN showed that pump price of petrol had been increased thrice in one week.

Following the development, many commercial and private car owners had parked their cars as they could not afford the cost of fuelling them.

Checks by our correspondent across the FCT also showed that there were few commercial vehicles operating.

Many commuters, including civil servants were seen stranded at various bus stops, as the few commercial vehicles operating had increased transport fares.

Some motorists, who spoke to NAN, expressed sadness about the situation, while calling on the Federal Government to intervene on the unstable fuel price and its hardship on citizens.

Some motorists told NAN that the sudden increase had added pressure to their daily expenses and worsened the cost of transportation and goods.

Mr Ibrahim Sadiq, a commercial driver in the Wuse area, said that the development was difficult to understand because many stations adjusted their prices almost immediately.

“Most of the fuel in their tanks was bought at the old price. So why increase the pump price while still selling the old stock which was bought at a cheaper rate,’’ he asked.

Sadiq said that the frequent adjustments had made it difficult for transport operators to maintain stable fares, often leading to disagreements with passengers.

Similarly, Mrs Chinyere Okeke, a civil servant said the situation had become unpredictable for motorists.

“Every week, there is a change in price, it affects our budgeting because transportation costs keep rising.

“This situation affects everything like food stuff among others,” she said.

Another motorist, Mr Musa Abdullahi, said that marketers should be monitored by the regulatory authorities to ensure fairness in pricing.

“Even before official announcements, some filling stations quickly adjusted their meters, authorities need to check this practice,” he said.

Abdullahi urged clearer guidelines on price adjustments to prevent arbitrary increases and protect consumers.

A business owner at Utako market, Mr Sani Wasiu, said that the increase would affect business.

“I have already ordered for more goods but while they were loading, the increase in pump price of petrol occurred, and it made me spend more on transportation than the goods.

“I need to sell and make profit, this is also applicable to other business owners because that is what we all suffer.

“If the pricing is stable, the cost of food will be reduced and it will triple down to everything,” Wasiu said.

However, industry stakeholders said the pricing pattern was largely influenced by market dynamics following the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector.

An official of the NNPCL who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the petrol pricing in a liberalised market often reflects prevailing supply costs and anticipated replacement prices.

According to the official, marketers sometimes adjust pump prices based on the expected cost of replenishing their stock.

“When the landing cost of petrol increases, marketers factor is the amount it will take to buy the next supply, that is why prices may change even before old stock is exhausted,” the official said.

A representative of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), who also spoke on condition anonymity, said that the agency always monitor activities in the downstream sector to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

According to the official, while prices are determined by market forces under deregulation, marketers are expected to operate transparently and avoid exploitative practices.

An economic analyst, Mr Wale Johnson said that the fluctuation in global crude oil prices, foreign exchange rates and supply logistics remain key factors influencing petrol prices in the country.

He urged authorities to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and improve communication with the public to reduce uncertainty surrounding fuel pricing.

The post Motorists groan over petrol price hike appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The Chief Public Relations Officer of NRC, Mr Callistus Unyimadu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Unyimadu said the new timetable would take effect on Friday, March 6, and was aimed at providing more travel options, enhancing operational flexibility, and strengthening service delivery on the busy route.

“The corridor earlier experienced operational disruptions following the March 28, 2022 bomb blast and the Aug. 26, 2025 derailment.

“This led to a reduction in rolling stock from three to one, the introduction of Temporary Speed Restrictions (TSR) for safety, and an adjustment in the number of daily trips.

“With stability now restored and in response to sustained passenger demand, the corporation has expanded services to better meet commuters’ expectations, in addition to the earlier relaxation of some temporary speed restrictions,” he said.

He said that under the revised schedule, passengers travelling between Idu and Rigasa would enjoy three trips on Fridays and Sundays, as well as on Saturdays and Mondays.

He added that two trips would continue to operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“Specifically, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Idu–Rigasa service departs Idu at 8.45 a.m. and returns from Rigasa at 2.30 p.m.

“On Fridays and Sundays, three trips operate, with departures from Idu at 7.45 a.m. and 3.15 p.m., and from Rigasa at 11.30 a.m.

“On Saturdays and Mondays, services depart Rigasa at 7.15 a.m. and 3.00 p.m., and from Idu at 11.00 a.m., with all trains making scheduled stops at Kubwa,” he said.

He advised passengers to take note of the new timetable and plan their journeys accordingly.

Unyimadu reiterated that the NRC remains committed to improving capacity, reliability, safety, and the overall passenger experience across its network.

The post NRC increases Abuja–Kaduna train trips from March 6 appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The Head of Corporate Communication, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mr Kolawole Ojelabi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.

Ojelabi said Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the increase after appeals from regulated operators over mounting economic pressures threatening operational sustainability.

“The new fare structure will take effect from Monday, March 2,” he said.

He explained that the adjustment was aimed at cushioning the impact of sustained economic challenges affecting public transport operations.

“The review is also in line with the previously approved annual fare review mechanism,” Ojelabi added.

He cited persistent inflationary trends, noting that Nigeria’s inflation rate closed 2025 at 15.2 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

According to him, Bus Operating Companies continue to grapple with rising maintenance costs, expensive spare parts and higher wage bills following the new national minimum wage.

“In a bid to maintain and improve standards, operators are investing in cleaner, fuel-efficient buses to enhance passenger comfort and environmental sustainability,” he said.

He added that the government remained committed to balancing affordability with safe, reliable and efficient public transport across the state.

The post Lagos approves 13% BRT fare rise appeared first on NEWSVERGE.