Long queues, Rickety buses: Chaos Deepens on Ikorodu BRT Corridor

Hopes that newly introduced buses would ease commuting on the Ikorodu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor have faded, as passengers complain that the overhaul has only worsened congestion, disorder, and commuter frustration.

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Despite assurances from the Lagos State government that new buses and upgraded terminals would shorten waiting times and improve service quality, residents say daily travel on the corridor has become more chaotic, marked by long queues, rickety buses, and frequent confrontations between passengers and officials.

“I Queued for Two Hours”

For many Ikorodu residents, the BRT system was once a dependable alternative to Lagos’ notorious traffic. That trust, however, is rapidly eroding.

“I stood in the queue for a good two hours that day,” said Temitope Kabiru, recounting her experience at the Ikeja terminal.

“Buses were parked right there in the terminal, but they refused to pick up passengers.”

According to Kabiru, the visible presence of idle buses only heightened commuter anger. Instead of offering explanations, officials allegedly responded with hostility.

“The coordinator started shouting at passengers, and when people reacted, he vowed not to let some of them enter the bus,” she said.

She added that when buses were eventually released, they often arrived nearly full. “Once in about an hour, they would bring a bus forward. But before it reached the people who were standing, some who were never in the queue were already seated. That escalated the tension.”

Still, some commuters say the BRT retains its appeal, especially during rush hour. Sofiya Owolabi, an occasional user, said she continues to rely on it because of the dedicated lane.

“BRT is convenient and faster, especially during rush hour. That’s why I still opt for it,” she said.

But even Owolabi admitted that these benefits are inconsistent.

“There have been times when we queued, and there was no BRT in sight,” she explained, noting that this often happens after work or during festive periods. “I’ve had to take the red bus because time was slipping by.”

She also described frequent verbal clashes between staff and commuters.

“I’ve seen BRT drivers exchange words with passengers, and it was really extreme,” Owolabi said, calling her overall experience “bittersweet.”

Allegations of Corruption and Intimidation

For regular commuter Babatunde Olamilekan, the system’s decline is rooted in corruption at the terminals.

“You stand in the queue for hours, and when the bus finally arrives, they smuggle some people in,” he alleged.

“They will tell you not to sit there, even after you’ve stood for hours. They keep the space for people who are not even around yet.”

Olamilekan said many passengers remain silent out of fear.

“You dare not talk, because if you do, they will fight you,” he claimed.

Beyond terminal disorder, he pointed to the poor condition of the buses.

“The buses break down on the road now and then. Imagine a Monday morning, going to work, and your BRT breaks down after fighting and queuing for hours.”

Passengers also report worsening staff conduct and dangerous overcrowding.

Many claim the blue-and-white buses on the Ikorodu corridor are refurbished older vehicles prone to breakdowns.

“Only God knows why it is we on Ikorodu Road that deserve these rickety buses,” one commuter said. “Even by looking at them, they look worn out.”

Adebimpe Alarape, a regular user, said the introduction of new buses on the Elepe and Odonguyan routes has paradoxically made commuting harder.

“Since these new buses started, it has been tough,” she said. “The drivers behave like touts. They don’t behave in a civilised way at all.”

Alarape criticised operators for forcing passengers to stand even when seats were available.

“They prioritise standing, and I don’t understand why,” she said.

She recalled an incident where passengers were aggressively forced into a full bus, only for an empty one to appear moments later.

“She wasn’t calm about it. She was fighting passengers who refused to enter the filled bus,” Alarape said.

Tensions have at times spilled into outright violence. Alarape described a confrontation on December 17, 2025, in Maryland, when a driver attempted to load more standing passengers into an already packed bus.

“The people outside started pouring sand into the bus, while those inside retaliated by pouring water on them. They started throwing stones,” she said.

According to her, the driver escalated the situation.

“He parked, came down from the bus, and joined the fight against the passengers,” she added. “This is just one of many uncivilised things that happen on the Ikorodu BRT corridor.”

LAMATA Responds

Reacting to the complaints, Kola Ojelabi, Public Relations Officer of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), said the agency had not received any formal reports of misconduct on the Ikorodu route.

“We regulate and franchise BRT operations, but not all high-capacity buses on Lagos roads are directly under LAMATA,” Ojelabi explained, noting that some are operated by private investors in mixed traffic.

He urged commuters to report incidents through LAMATA’s official email and phone channels, which he said are available even after business hours.

Ojelabi also expressed surprise at reports of BRT buses operating from Elepe to Oshodi or TBS, adding that the agency would investigate.

As commuters continue to endure long queues, breakdowns, and rising tempers, many say the Ikorodu BRT corridor has drifted far from its promise of efficiency, becoming instead a daily struggle for those who depend on it.

Source: https://guardian.ng/features/commuters-decry-rickety-buses-chaos-on-ikorodu-brt-corridor/