In the latest episode of Mobility Redefined, Dr. Kaan Yildizgoz sits down with Abimbola Akinajo, Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), to discuss the remarkable strides being made to transform urban mobility in Lagos. As Africa’s most populous city, Lagos presents a daunting canvas of congestion, complexity, and constraint—yet also one of opportunity, innovation, and resilience. Akinajo shares a blueprint not only for Lagos but for cities across the Global South.
A Governance Model Rooted in Resilience
LAMATA isn’t merely a transport authority—it’s a strategic, legislative, and operational force embedded in Lagos’s DNA. Established by law and sustained by a guaranteed share of state revenue, LAMATA operates with a rare stability in public sector governance. This financial and legislative entrenchment has allowed it to plan, franchise, implement, and regulate public transport across a city where over 20 million people jockey for space, movement, and momentum.
This model is drawing the attention of cities across Africa. From Sierra Leone to Senegal and various Nigerian states, LAMATA’s approach is seen as a gold standard—particularly because it has proven not only sustainable over two decades but adaptable in the face of urban expansion.
Confronting the Informal Sector with Integration, Not Opposition
One of the defining features of Lagos’s transport landscape is the dominance of informal transport. According to Abimbola, 75% of Lagos’s mechanised trips are served by informal operators, chiefly the danfo minibuses, which are estimated to number over 75,000. In contrast to top-down eradication strategies seen elsewhere, LAMATA is pursuing a progressive, pragmatic transition.
Through the Bus Industry Transition Programme, the authority is engaging directly with unions and operators, exploring pathways to formalise and integrate their services. These include providing new roles in high-capacity transit and retraining operators for roles in a modernised system. Abimbola emphasises this isn’t about “out with the old, in with the new,” but a merging of institutional knowledge with innovative practices.
Scaling Up: From Danfos to Mass Transit
LAMATA’s long-term vision is built around a multimodal, interconnected system—rail, bus rapid transit (BRT), ferries, and last-mile connectivity. The Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan, first conceived in 2003 and continually updated, charts a future where six metro lines, 14 BRT corridors, and over 20 ferry routes provide the structural backbone for a more efficient urban mobility network.
Already, two rail lines are underway. The Blue Line will link the east and west of the city with a capacity of 500,000 passengers daily, while the Red Line connecting north and south is designed for 750,000. BRT services are expanding, with a growing fleet of high-capacity buses complementing dedicated corridors and mixed-traffic routes.
Crucially, these are being integrated with payment technologies like the Cowry Card, offering fare interoperability across modes. This enables seamless journeys and fosters commuter confidence in the predictability and reliability of services.
Financing the Future
When asked about funding, Abimbola paints a picture of layered, strategic partnerships. Initial investments came from the World Bank and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), supporting the first BRT corridors and quality bus initiatives. Today, the federal government and private sector are showing increased interest, with conversations underway around further rail investments.
LAMATA is also exploring innovative financing through environmental sustainability initiatives. These include plans for compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, waste-to-fuel projects, and potential access to green funds by reducing the city’s carbon footprint. Replacing 75,000 low-capacity buses with 15,000 clean, high-capacity vehicles isn’t just about transport—it’s environmental reform in motion.
Digitalising the Mobility Ecosystem
Technology is transforming how Lagos commutes. LAMATA’s e-ticketing systems offer data-driven insights into rider patterns and revenue flows, while upcoming Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) aim to bring real-time tracking, predictive scheduling, and operational efficiency.
With ITS-enabled tracking on 450 last-mile buses already operational, the next step is to extend this to the entire fleet. Technology isn’t replacing the human element; it’s augmenting it—bringing transparency, accountability, and reliability into the daily reality of millions.
A Model for the Global South
Abimbola closes the conversation with a profound observation: “Regulated transport and informal transport must meet.” This ethos of inclusion, dialogue, and mutual benefit is central to LAMATA’s success. Rather than imposing change, it facilitates transformation—of systems, societies, and individuals.
As cities across Africa and the wider Global South confront the challenges of population growth, climate change, and urbanisation, the Lagos model offers a roadmap rooted in pragmatism and partnership. LAMATA’s journey is still ongoing, but its lessons are loud and clear: invest in governance, include the informal sector, think multimodal, plan sustainably, and build with and for your people.
Listen to the Full Episode
To hear more from Abimbola Akinajo on governance, integration, technology, and the human element behind urban mobility transformation, tune into the full episode of Mobility Redefined.