Lagos commuters are increasingly spending more on transport to avoid long queues, delayed departures and unexpected disruptions at motor parks. For many passengers, cheaper bus fares come with long waiting times that can threaten work schedules and important appointments.
Across parts of Lagos, commuters must choose between waiting for buses to fill up or paying extra for tricycles and connecting vehicles. Although alternative routes cost more, some passengers say they offer a better chance of reaching their destinations on time.
For Anu Olamide, a Magodo resident who works on Lagos Island, the difference between morning and evening journeys is significant.
Olamide said she crosses the bridge near the Secretariat behind Magodo Phase Two to access public transport towards Ajah and Victoria Island. While she sometimes waits about 15 minutes for a vehicle in the morning, returning home in the evening is often more difficult because of traffic congestion and higher fares.
Her experience reflects the growing pressure on commuters who must balance transport costs against the time required to complete their daily journeys.
Long Bus Queues Force Lagos Commuters to Spend More
Felix Adeniji, who travels between Magodo and Ketu, said his delays often begin while waiting for enough passengers to board a tricycle, popularly known as a keke.
He usually waits about 10 minutes, but the delay can extend to 30 minutes, depending on passenger availability. Vehicles tend to fill up faster during morning and evening rush hours.
For passengers travelling from Ojota, however, the situation can be worse. Some commuters reportedly spend more than an hour waiting at motor parks before their buses depart.
Favour Okon said repeated delays at the Ojota motor park had forced her to reconsider her usual route to Ogba and Agege.
On one occasion, she waited for more than an hour for a bus to fill up. On another trip, the vehicle developed a mechanical problem around Oregun in Ikeja shortly after leaving the park.
According to Okon, passengers received no refunds after the journey was interrupted. The driver reportedly explained that he had already paid certain park charges and needed money to repair the vehicle.
The passengers eventually left the bus to find alternative transport, losing both time and the fares they had already paid.
Alternative Routes Cost More but Save Time
Following those experiences, Okon began considering other routes when travelling to Ogba and Agege.
Instead of waiting at Ojota, she sometimes takes a tricycle towards Adeniyi Jones, near Allen Junction, where she can find vehicles heading towards her destination.
Although the alternative costs more, she said the vehicles tend to fill up faster. This makes the route more convenient when she needs to arrive on time.
For Okon, paying extra is sometimes preferable to spending hours at a motor park without knowing when a bus will leave.
Lawyer Farouk Olaide has also experienced lengthy delays at the Ojota motor park while travelling towards Ogba and Agege.
He recalled waiting almost two hours for a bus despite leaving home early because he had to appear in court.
Olaide said passengers sometimes faced further confusion when drivers repeatedly changed the vehicles assigned to their journeys. According to him, passengers could be moved from one bus to another as drivers announced new arrangements.
The uncertainty frustrated him because he had planned his departure around a fixed court appearance.
Despite these difficulties, Olaide continues to use the motor park because its fares remain cheaper than the alternatives.
He pays about ₦600 for a bus journey. Travelling by tricycle from Ojota Junction to Adeniyi Jones costs around ₦300, followed by another ₦500 to reach Ogba or Agege.
This brings the alternative journey to approximately ₦800, compared with the ₦600 bus fare.
The ₦200 difference may appear small, but it matters to commuters managing daily expenses. However, cheaper transport can become less attractive when passengers risk arriving late for work, business engagements or appointments.
Not All Passengers Experience the Same Delays
Philip Daniel, an elderly businessman who works around Ikeja Under-Bridge, said he usually finds transport quickly because he leaves home early.
He explained that demand for vehicles heading towards his destination is often high at that time. However, when he travels later in the day, he sometimes waits about 30 minutes before boarding.
His experience shows that waiting times can vary depending on departure time, destination and passenger demand.
Still, the accounts of Okon and Olaide highlight the difficulties that arise when buses take too long to fill up or drivers change travel arrangements after passengers have boarded.
For workers and business owners, leaving home early does not always guarantee a timely arrival. A long wait at a motor park or an unexpected breakdown can disrupt the entire journey.
Passengers may then have to pay for another vehicle, adding to the cost of a trip that has already consumed valuable time.
Drivers Blame Delays on Passenger Availability
Commercial drivers at the Ojota motor park said the need to get enough passengers before departure was a major reason for the delays.
Ezekiel Olaoluwa, who operates between Ojota and Ogba, explained that drivers pay fees to operate from the park. He said leaving with empty seats could make a trip financially difficult.
According to Olaoluwa, drivers sometimes have to wait for additional passengers to make their journeys worthwhile.
He maintained that delays do not occur on every trip and that drivers cannot always control how quickly passengers arrive. He also described vehicle breakdowns as uncommon, although they sometimes disrupt journeys.
Another driver, Ajani Toheeb, who operates between Ojota and the Secretariat, similarly attributed delayed departures to the time required to fill available seats.
Toheeb said drivers must consider operating costs and the number of passengers waiting before setting off.
While these explanations highlight the financial pressures facing commercial drivers, commuters continue to bear the consequences of unpredictable departure times.
For many Lagos residents, the choice remains difficult: pay more for a potentially faster journey or save money and risk spending hours waiting for a bus.