Lagos Sets August 1 For Cashless Buses As Offenders Risk Imprisonment

Lagos Sets August 1 For Cashless Buses As Offenders Risk Seven Years Imprisonment

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority has fixed August 1 to begin full enforcement of cashless payments on all regulated public buses in the state, with violators facing possible jail time.

LAMATA disclosed this during an X Space discussion with transport operators and stakeholders tagged “Lagos Cashless Transit: What Aug. 1 Enforcement Means to You.”

According to the agency’s Head of Legal, Idris Akinola, Lagos laws already require commuters on regulated transport to pay fares electronically using the Cowry Card.

Akinola said the law does not spare either side of a cash transaction.
“Offering cash and accepting cash are both offences. Anyone found culpable could face serious penalties, including up to seven years imprisonment,” he warned.

He urged transport companies to train drivers and conductors, conduct internal checks, and work with LAMATA officials during enforcement.

Managing Director of Teejay Motors, Adekunle Tajudeen, said his firm had already briefed staff against collecting cash. He added that some drivers had been arrested and jailed in the past for breaking the rule.

“Passengers must also stop offering cash. We’ve increased our fleet and recruited more drivers so operations won’t suffer if we take non-compliant staff off the road,” Tajudeen said.

Transport and urban mobility expert, Adepoju Fawokon, said previous enforcement efforts failed because only drivers were punished. He stressed that both passengers and operators must be held accountable to cut revenue leakage and sustain the system.

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Managing Director of Touch and Pay Technologies, Olamide Afolabi, said steps have been taken to resolve complaints around Cowry Card funding.

He listed new options such as the Carry Hub platform, a mobile app, and self-service kiosks at bus and rail terminals. These will allow commuters to check balances, view transactions, and fund cards directly.

Afolabi added that a postpaid and single-card payment system will be expanded before year-end. It will enable instant online top-ups without needing to transfer to a physical card first.

LAMATA said the cashless policy is part of efforts to improve accountability, transparency and efficiency across Lagos’ regulated bus and rail services.

Commuters have been advised to fund their Cowry Cards ahead of August 1 to avoid delays and penalties.