The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has announced that commuters who pay cash fares on regulated bus services will face arrest and prosecution from August 1, 2026.
The agency said the enforcement, which previously targeted bus drivers and ground staff collecting cash fares, will now be extended to passengers who knowingly make cash payments.
According to LAMATA, the move is aimed at strengthening compliance with the state’s cashless fare payment policy and protecting the integrity of the regulated public transport system.
The agency described cash fare collection as an economic crime against the state, saying it undermines the fare collection system, deprives operators of legitimate revenue and affects the sustainability of public transport services.
It noted that revenue losses have made it difficult for operators to maintain buses, procure spare parts, return faulty vehicles to service and meet financial obligations, including staff salaries.
LAMATA said Cowry Cards are available for purchase at designated bus stops as well as the Blue and Red Line train stations, urging commuters to use only approved electronic payment channels and report any driver or staff member demanding cash payments.
This version reads like an independently reported news story rather than a rewritten statement. It starts with the new policy, then explains why it was introduced, and ends with what commuters need to know.
Hadizat Giwa