New bus system brings ease to Nigerian commuters

26 November 2009

Anyone who's been to Lagos, Nigeria, will know it takes patience and strong nerves to get around. While 17 million people live there, around 7 million of these fight their way through congested roads and highways everyday.
But, the impact of a World Bank funded bus system introduced in 2007 is beginning to bear fruit by easing the often stressful daily commute for millions of Nigerians.

Cars, buses, motorcycles and people all compete for their space on the road. But, a rapid bus transit system introduced two years ago is breathing new life into how people get around. The bus system is a public private partnership that has turned one of Lagos' most notorious highways into a commuter's dream. For over 20km, one lane is now used exclusively by buses. And many drivers are opting for the park-and-ride system.

“So, it is the combination of the government and the private sector for once. In the past it used to be private sector alone or the government alone. This is why we never had a success as much as this,” says Lamata MD Dayo Mobereola. The state finances the infrastructure while a private company provides the busses and maintains them.

This is a success story that is paving the way for further expansion in the hopes of meeting the growing expectations of the millions more who don't just want a ride, but want to get to their destination on time.

Sherwin Bryce-Pease, New York