If you are in Lagos or plan to visit, mastering how transportation in Lagos works will save you and make your life easier, being conversant with the various means of transportation and routes they take is very important to navigate from one axis of Lagos to another.
There are 20 local government areas and over 50 settlements in the division notable in Lagos state which has over 30,000 major streets and about 12,000 close. Navigating all these could be challenging for a visitor not conversant with the state.
As a team of Lagos homegrown, we are conversant with every nook and cranny of Lagos State, and we delight to share with you all you need to know about transportation in Lagos to ease your movement.
That said, let’s briefly talk about Lagos’s transportation challenges.
Challenges of Transportation In Lagos
Transportation in Lagos faces several challenges sparked by the high population rate. Macrotrend’s report shows that the current metro area population of Lagos in 2024 is 16,536,000, a 3.7% increase from 2023.
The above statistics indicate that Lagos’s population is on the rise, and these populations move about their daily routine which results in increased commercial activities, high vehicle density, and congested roads also fueled by the inadequacy of infrastructure, poor road structure, behavioral factors, with inefficient safety concerns.
Addressing Lagos traffic congestion is beyond the context of this post. put, it requires a holistic approach involving investment in better infrastructure, improved public transportation, urban planning reforms, and enforcement of traffic regulations.
Let’s get to the bread and butter of this post which is knowing how transportation in Lagos works.
Major Means Of Transportation In Lagos
Lagos is a large city, it utilizes various transportation options that take people to and from daily activities, some of these transportation options include:
- Motorcycles (Okada)
- Triycicles (Maruwa/keke Napep)
- ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt, Taxify, etc.)
- Mini-buses (Korope)
- Danfo
- LAG Buses
these transportation options help people navigate from one part of the state to another, the Alternative to choose largely depends on your location, resources, and choice of comfort
Let’s discuss each of these options even further.
1) Motorcycles (Okada)
The Okada is the simplest and easy-to-navigate transportation choice, they are cheap easy, and mobile. this is a widely used means of transportation in areas with high activities, you find these riders in different locations such as Markets, street corridors, estate entrances, highways, and commercial environments with a lot of people.
An average Okada passenger is two plus the rider making three, but Lagosian funny set of people that carry whatever number that suits them.
Although the Okada has areas of restriction and has been banned several by the State government due to the alleged abuse of it to rub the citizens and commit other crimes in the state, this restriction doesn’t stand the test of time since Lagosians find this option the simple and stress-free and serves as a mean of livelihood for many families
Though not safe, in our opinion, okada is the fastest and easiest way to move around Lagos considering its ability to maneuver from one route to the other and easily by navigating between vehicles in Lagos traffic.
2) Triycicles (Maruwa/keke Napep)
Maruwa or keke Napep fondly called by People in Lagos is a three-legged transportation GOAT, this is a five-sitter vehicle that plies the roads of Lagos, this mid-sized option can be found in various areas of Lagos to convey people from and to their destination.
The Maruwa charges less than the Okada considering the more seat numbers available compared to the Okada, this vehicle can easily navigate streets, estate, and urban roads due to its size, body build, and fuel efficiency.
image credit: tadekvisual
3) ride-hailing (Uber, bolt)
This means of transportation recently gained prominence in Lagos, it’s a very comfortable way to move around in the state, especially for the reserved people used to their private vehicles, also this is an ideal option for foreigners who want less contact with the locals.
But the downside of this choice is that it’s quite expensive, especially in the peak period. this can in no way be compared to all other means of transportation in Lagos in terms of comfort, and safety.
Although popular among young people and older ones who are conversant with mobile technology. According to the stats from technext24, Bolt alone as a brand has about 13,000 drivers in Lagos, the figure for other ride-hailing providers in Lagos could not be ascertained at the time of writing this post.
Even though its fares could be high, this is a convenient and the safest transportation to move around Lagos state. So, whenever you are in Lagos or making plans to visit consider this as a smart choice to navigate from one part of the city to another.
4) Mini-buses (Korope Bus)
These are mid-size buses that ply the roads of Lagos and come in different colors, whether it’s painted the official Lagos state public transport colors (yellow and a stripe of black) or not the Korope bus will take you to your destination.
They are found around markets in Lagos, cities, and villages and are also used mostly as campus shuttles in the state.
Korope is a seven-sitter bus that is easily accessible on Lagos road due to its low number of sits, it loads passengers faster and is always on the go, the downside of this shuttle is its inability to carry loads because of its smaller shape and no booth, so if you’re looking to carry a lot of luggage or goods around Lagos then Korope is not for you.
5) Danfo
Danfo are big buses used in Lagos for transportation, they are of various sizes, painted with Lagos public transport colors
These buses ply around many areas of Lagos, it have approximately 20 to 27 seats.
Always noisy and crowded, a higher percentage of its drivers are reckless while driving, plus their mannerless and rude attitude toward commuters. This transportation option is not for you if you don’t like stress in your life.
6) LAG Buses
LAG buses are Lagos state Government-owned mass transit, it’s an initiative by the state government to ease transportation in the state, Lag buses are convenient and safe to move around the state. this is a safe and cost-effective choice for everyday commuters who need to go out to their respective business in the state.
Although boarding a LAG bus requires a boarding card to be purchased and funded at every bus terminal in the state, this is a good option for people who earn monthly, having a choice to fund their LAG bus transit card for the month to ease everyday spending.
Final Thought
Lagos offers a range of transportation choices. Motorcycles (Okadas) and tricycles (Maruwa/Keke Napep) are ideal for navigating the Lagos chaotic traffic. The ride-hailing providers like Bolt give convenience, while Mini-buses (Korope) and Danfos are commonly used within the state.
LAG Buses are somewhat disorderly and are more organized and modern. Despite these choices, Lagos still faces challenges like traffic congestion and safety concerns.
The residents of Lagos rely on this diverse transportation mix, which demonstrates the city’s resilience and adaptability. Enhancing these systems could result in easier, safer, and more efficient travel for everyone in Lagos.
