Lagos govt issues fresh update on ban of korope buses along Lekki–Epe corridor

Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has reiterated that the prohibition of mini-buses, known as korope, along the Lekki–Epe Corridor is still in effect. They emphasized that this measure is crucial to the state’s current bus sector reforms.

The government announced via a statement from Bolanle Ogunlola, the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, that the policy limits operations on the corridor to medium- and high-capacity buses, aligning with the goals of the Bus Reform Initiative.

Some mini-bus operators affected by the changes have protested and a renewed public debate has ensued, prompting the clarification.

The ministry states that the reform framework restricts mini buses to inner routes, reserving major corridors like Lekki–Epe for buses with greater passenger capacity.

Ogunlola clarified that the policy is based on the Lagos Strategic Transportation Master Plan, which aims to establish a mass transit system in the state that is organized, efficient, and sustainable.

The statement revealed that 10 transport groups have completed registration and are actively involved in the pilot phase of the reform.

Those operators who have not complied yet were called upon to formalise their operations, with the ministry stressing that stakeholder engagement and inclusiveness are crucial for the success of the initiative.

Residents, traders, and transport users along the Lekki–Epe axis were urged to support the policy, which the government deemed crucial for enhancing safety, traffic flow, and overall transport efficiency on this busy corridor.

Sola Giwa, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Transportation, stated that the reform aims to limit the number of vehicles using major routes to reduce congestion and improve road safety.

He clarified that substituting multiple smaller buses with a limited number of high-capacity vehicles would alleviate traffic pressure, reduce pollution, and enhance economic productivity, pointing out that one large bus can transport the same number of passengers as several mini buses combined.

Giwa noted that transport activities along the corridor had been largely unregulated, which necessitated government intervention to enhance accountability and safeguard commuters. He mentioned that prior to the start of enforcement, unions and operators were consulted and urged to engage with the organized registration process.

The Lagos State Government emphasized that the limitation of unregulated mini buses on the Lekki–Epe Expressway is a permanent, data-informed policy and cautioned that any efforts to disturb traffic along this route would be dealt with decisively.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.