Lagos Government to Phase Out 'Korope' Minibuses from Major Highways

The Lagos State Government has announced a significant policy move to phase out small commercial buses, popularly known as 'korope' (or popularly known as "Keke Napep"), from major highways as part of its accelerated efforts to modernize public transportation. This decision is integrated into the larger Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan and specifically marks the next phase of the Lekki–Epe Bus Reform Scheme, set to begin on December 8. The ultimate goal of this reform is to transition the city's largely informal minibus system into a structured, regulated network utilizing high-capacity buses..

The initiative falls under the broader Bus Reform Initiative (BRI), which aims to professionalize the public transport sector. To finalize the operational details, a key stakeholders’ meeting was held, bringing together officials from the Ministry of Transportation, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and representatives of the existing informal bus operators. This collaboration is crucial for a smooth transition and integrating current operators into the new system.

​Under the reformed scheme, regulated, high-capacity bus services will operate exclusively along key transit corridors. Initial routes confirmed include Ajah–CMS (Marina)/Obalende, Ajah–Oshodi, Ajah–Berger, and Ajah–Iyana Ipaja, with future plans to extend these services further to Epe. This structure aims to provide commuters with a more predictable, safer, and higher-quality transportation experience along the busiest routes in the state.

​The Special Adviser on Transportation, Sola Giwa, who chaired the meeting, reiterated the government’s commitment to streamlining operations and removing unsafe or unregulated vehicles from major highways. As quoted by LAMATA's Head of Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, Mr. Giwa stressed: “The vision of the state government is also to remove the small buses known as korope from major highways and reassign them to feeder and community routes to strengthen the First and Last Mile bus scheme.”.

This strategic reassignment ensures that the 'korope' will not be entirely eliminated but rather repositioned to serve a more effective role on feeder and community routes, connecting residents to the main bus corridors. This move is intended to enhance the overall efficiency of the public transport system by ensuring large-capacity buses handle the high-volume long-distance routes, while smaller vehicles manage the crucial 'First and Last Mile' connections, thereby solidifying the state’s vision for a modern, integrated transport network