Danfos to Stay as Lagos Partners NURTW on Transport Reform

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has assured residents that the iconic yellow minibuses, popularly known as Danfos, will not be phased out of the city’s transport system.

Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, gave the assurance during a recent interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise. She said the government recognises that Danfos remain the most widely used means of transport in Lagos and are essential to daily commuting.

“It is not about throwing away what exists. These buses are the ones that move most of our people daily,” Akinajo stated.

As part of ongoing reforms, the state government has introduced the Bus Industry Transition Programme to integrate Danfo operators into a more regulated transport framework. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other stakeholders in the sector.

Akinajo explained that the government’s plan is to work with Danfo drivers and conductors to improve standards rather than displace them. The programme also includes a scrapping and replacement scheme that allows operators to swap old buses for newer, safer, and more environmentally friendly models.

Despite the planned upgrades, the buses will retain their yellow identity, which has become a cultural symbol in Lagos. Experts say the reforms strike a balance between modernising the transport system and preserving the city’s heritage.

With the expansion of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and ongoing rail projects, Danfos are expected to continue serving as the backbone of last-mile transportation for millions of Lagos residents.

By Oshuniran Sheriff Ola