Lagos State Government has confirmed plans to gradually withdraw small commercial buses, commonly called korope, from major highways as part of a broader effort to modernise the public transport system and enhance commuter safety
The announcement was made during a stakeholder meeting ahead of the launch of the Lekki-Epe Bus Reform Scheme, scheduled to commence on December 8, 2025.
The meeting brought together officials from the Ministry of Transportation, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and representatives of informal transport operators to finalise arrangements for the first phase of the initiative.
The reform will introduce exclusive, fully regulated bus services across major transport corridors, including Ajah–CMS (Marina)/Obalende, Ajah–Oshodi, Ajah–Berger, and Ajah–Iyana Ipaja, with plans to extend services to Epe in subsequent phases.
In a statement, LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, said Special Adviser on Transportation, Sola Giwa, emphasised the state’s long-term goal of removing unsafe and unregulated vehicles from high-traffic routes, replacing them with a coordinated and efficient transport system.
“We need to take a lot of bad buses off the road. The Lekki–Epe Expressway is not isolated. We are working on other major transit corridors. The State Government also plans to remove the small buses, known as korope, from major highways and reassign them to feeder and community routes to strengthen the First and Last Mile bus scheme,” Giwa said.
Under the new structure, currently regulated operators on the corridor will continue stage-carriage services, while Oneness, a collaborative group of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has been approved to run express services between Ajah, Oshodi, and Berger.
All buses in the scheme will feature Lagos State’s official blue-and-white colours and will carry QR codes for verification, unique identification numbers, and Touch and Pay (TAP) stickers. Drivers will also be required to wear official Ministry of Transportation badges.
A total of 229 medium- and high-capacity buses will operate in the first phase, with fare payments restricted to the Cowry card electronic system. Giwa warned that any operator or passenger found conducting cash transactions on the corridor would face arrest and prosecution.
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Another means of livelihood to be cut off
No chill