The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority has announced a ban on the transportation of goods and heavy luggage on regulated public buses across Lagos State, with enforcement set to begin on June 1, 2026.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, LAMATA said the decision followed increasing complaints from commuters and operational difficulties caused by the growing use of public buses for carrying goods and bulky items.
According to the authority, the practice has negatively affected passenger comfort, safety, and the efficiency of transport services across the state.
LAMATA explained that the directive was agreed upon during a strategic meeting with heads of operations and maintenance of bus operating companies, where stakeholders unanimously resolved to stop the practice and reorganized the system to better serve commuters while protecting transport operators.
The agency warned that enforcement of the directive would be strict, stating that any driver caught conveying goods on regulated buses after the deadline would be immediately dismissed and blacklisted.
It also warned that terminal officials, ground staff, or LAMATA personnel found aiding or permitting the loading of goods onto buses would face automatic dismissal.
The authority stressed that there would be zero tolerance for violations, adding that the government remains committed to improving order, safety, and efficiency in Lagos’ public transportation system.
LAMATA urged commuters, transport operators, and the public to comply fully with the new directive and make alternative arrangements for moving goods across the state.
