Lagos to prosecute BRT, train commuters paying cash from August 1

Starting August 1, 2026, commuters who pay cash for services on Lagos’ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Bus Reform Initiative (BRI), and Lagos Rail services will face arrest and prosecution. This enforcement comes from the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) as part of an expansion of their cashless fare policy.

Until now, enforcement of the state’s cashless fare policy focused primarily on bus operators and ticketing personnel who collected cash outside the approved Cowry Card system. Under the new directive, passengers who knowingly pay cash on BRT, BRI, and Lagos Rail services will also be liable.

LAMATA said the move is aimed at eliminating revenue leakages, strengthening the state’s electronic fare collection infrastructure, and improving transparency across Lagos’ regulated transport network. Commuters are directed to use approved digital payment channels, with the Cowry Card remaining the primary accepted method across all three regulated transport services.

The Cowry Card system was introduced as part of Lagos State’s initiative to digitise public transport payments, minimise cash handling throughout the network, and establish a more auditable record of fare revenues. Currently, this system is accepted on the Bus Rapid Transit network, on Bus Rapid Infrastructure routes, and within the Lagos Rail Mass Transit system that connects Mile 2 to Marina.

LAMATA stated that enforcing rules for commuters is important because people are still paying with cash. This continues even after operators received earlier warnings. This shows that the behaviour of commuters is keeping cash payments going, even when there are already measures in place to target operators.

What BRT commuters paying cash need to do before August 1

Commuters have only a few days to make sure their Cowry Cards are working and have enough fare credit. LAMATA has not announced any grace period after August 1. This means that passengers using regulated buses without a valid digital payment method from that date could be arrested.

You can get and recharge Cowry Cards at specific places in the transport network, including BRT terminals and select agent locations throughout Lagos. If you regularly use the network but have been paying with cash, whether from habit, convenience, or because no one has asked you to stop, you need to take action right away.

The agency has advised passengers to ensure that their cards are active and have sufficient credit before boarding, as the enforcement will take place at the beginning of the journey rather than afterwards. LAMATA did not specify the documentation or identification that passengers need to carry, but urged all commuters to use only approved digital channels moving forward.

Also read: Why ₦500,000 is the minimum wage for independent living in Lagos | Cowrywise report