Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has restated that the ban on mini buses, commonly called korope, along the Lekki–Epe Corridor remains in force, stressing that the measure is a central pillar of the state’s ongoing bus sector reforms.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Bolanle Ogunlola, the government said the policy restricts operations on the corridor to medium- and high-capacity buses in line with the objectives of the Bus Reform Initiative.
The clarification follows renewed public debate and protests by some mini-bus operators affected by the changes.
According to the ministry, the reform framework confines mini buses to inner routes, while major corridors such as Lekki–Epe are reserved for buses with higher passenger capacity.
Ogunlola explained that the policy is rooted in the Lagos Strategic Transportation Master Plan, which seeks to create an organised, efficient and sustainable mass transit system across the state.
The statement disclosed that 10 transport groups have already completed registration and are actively participating in the pilot phase of the reform.
Operators who are yet to comply were urged to formalise their operations, with the ministry emphasising that stakeholder engagement and inclusiveness remain key to the success of the initiative.
Residents, traders and transport users along the Lekki–Epe axis were also appealed to support the policy, which the government described as essential to improving safety, traffic flow and overall transport efficiency on the busy corridor.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said the reform is designed to reduce congestion and enhance road safety by limiting the number of vehicles operating on major routes.
He explained that replacing multiple smaller buses with fewer high-capacity vehicles would ease traffic pressure, cut down on pollution and boost economic productivity, noting that a single large bus can move the same number of passengers as several mini buses combined.
Giwa added that transport activities along the corridor had previously been largely unregulated, making government intervention necessary to improve accountability and protect commuters. He said unions and operators were consulted before enforcement began and were encouraged to key into the structured registration process.
The Lagos State Government reiterated that the restriction of unregulated mini buses on the Lekki–Epe Expressway is a permanent, data-driven policy and warned that any attempt to disrupt traffic along the corridor would be firmly addressed.
Lagos govt reaffirms ban on korope buses along Lekki–Epe corridor
