Corridor in Conflict’: Lagos Commercial Drivers Block VGC Road in Protest Over Transport Reforms and Bus Reform Scheme!
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Corridor in Conflict’: Lagos Commercial Drivers Block VGC Road in Protest Over Transport Reforms and Bus Reform Scheme!
Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan, Editor-in-Chief | Sele Media Africa
Lagos, Nigeria — Commercial transport operators in Nigeria’s largest city on Wednesday staged a protest along the VGC (Victoria Garden City) section of the Lekki–Epe Expressway, disrupting traffic for several hours as drivers voiced opposition to recent public transport reforms being implemented on major commuter corridors.
Drivers and unionised commercial vehicle operators — primarily owners of unregulated minibuses locally known as “koropes” — blocked the busy arterial road in the Lekki axis, signalling deepening frustration over the state government’s roll-out of high-capacity, government-regulated buses under its ongoing Bus Reform Initiative (BRI). The action is part of broader resistance by informal transport workers to what they describe as the marginalisation of traditional transport routes and routes they have long depended on for daily livelihood.
Protesters held placards and shouted slogans condemning the exclusion of their vehicles from major corridors, especially the Lekki–Epe stretch now dedicated to a formalised bus network launched in late 2025, and accused authorities of enforcing policies that favour large bus operators at the expense of small-scale drivers without adequate consultation.
The Lagos State government has, in recent weeks, categorically declared the Lekki–Epe carriageway and other major corridors off-limits to informal commercial transport operators as part of its drive to modernise public transit and improve road safety and commuter experience. The policy shift, anchored on the Lekki–Epe Bus Reform Scheme, aims to phase out low-capacity buses — pushing them to feeder or first-and-last-mile routes — and replace them with blue-and-white regulated buses supported by electronic payment and route tracking systems.
Government officials and transport planners argue the reforms are data-driven and necessary to reduce congestion, streamline corridors and enhance commuter comfort. They maintain that extensive sensitisation and stakeholder engagements preceded the implementation and that unlawful operations on regulated corridors undermine both safety and economic productivity.
Nonetheless, the protest underlines persistent tensions between Lagos’s informal transport sector and regulatory authorities. Drivers and their advocates contend that the reforms, while well-intended, have sidelined the economic realities of small operators who lack the capital to transition into the new system or to compete with larger transport franchises. Some drivers contend the new policies threaten their livelihoods and have demanded expanded inclusion in planning processes or compensatory mechanisms.
Traffic enforcement agencies and security operatives were deployed to manage the blockade and ease congestion, and authorities have reiterated calls for commuters and transport workers to engage through formal forums rather than street protest. No serious injuries have been reported, but the demonstration has sparked renewed debate about the pace and equity of Lagos’s transport transformation.
As cities across Africa grapple with informal sectors’ integration into formal economies and services, Lagos’s experience reflects a broader dialogue on governance, inclusion, and the future of urban mobility in rapidly expanding megacities.
Sources:
- Nairametrics – Lagos says Lekki–Epe carriageway out of bounds for informal transport operators
- Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) official reports on the Lekki–Epe Bus Reform Scheme
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