LAMATA, RTEAN Advance Bus Modernisation Talks

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) have held high-level discussions to advance the modernization of bus operations under the state’s Bus Reform Initiative.

According to a statement released by the agency on Wednesday, the strategic meeting in Lagos focused on the operational and institutional reforms required to implement the initiative across the city’s Quality Bus Corridors. The talks were facilitated by Olamide Afolabi, Managing Director of Touch and Pay Technologies.

Key issues addressed during the engagement included new vehicle standards, the institutional restructuring of transport operators into cooperatives or corporate entities, and the establishment of robust maintenance frameworks to ensure fleet reliability and efficiency.

The bus reform plan is expected to introduce modern buses to replace aging, unregulated vehicles, deploy Intelligent Transport Systems for real-time monitoring and operations, and expand digital ticketing and cashless fare payments for commuters.

Representatives from the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, including Olasunkanmi Ojowuro and Tiamiyu Oluwatosin, attended the meeting. LAMATA was represented by Dr. Kemi Amure, Osa Konyeha, and Kolawole Ojelabi, while the RTEAN delegation was led by Comrade Lasisi Taiwo.

The engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to restructure Lagos’ public transport system into a more organized, technology-driven, and commuter-focused network. Negotiations are scheduled to resume next week, with both parties working toward a formal agreement to accelerate the reform agenda.