Several passengers were injured on Thursday morning in a collision involving two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses at the Mangoro area of Lagos.

The accident occurred within the BRT lane on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, opposite the former Punch newspaper head office at Onipetesi, in Ikeja, Lagos. Emergency responders and bystanders helped convey the injured passengers to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Authorities confirmed that no fatalities were recorded.

An eyewitness said the incident happened when one of the BRT buses swerved to avoid a commercial bus that had entered the restricted BRT corridor, leading to a head-on collision with another BRT vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.
“The driver was trying to avoid hitting the commercial bus that suddenly drove into the lane,” the witness said. “In the process, he collided with another BRT coming from the other side.”

Traffic officials later arrived at the scene to control congestion and clear the damaged vehicles from the road.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) is expected to issue a statement on the cause of the accident and ongoing safety measures within the BRT corridor.

Background: Series of BRT Accidents Raise Safety Concerns in Lagos

The recent collision between two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses at Mangoro adds to a growing list of similar incidents on Lagos roads involving the state’s mass transit system.

In August 2024, several passengers were injured in a head-on collision between two BRT buses at the Dopemu area of Lagos. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the crash occurred after one of the buses swerved to avoid hitting a commercial motorcyclist riding illegally on the BRT corridor, resulting in a collision with another oncoming bus.

LASEMA’s spokesman, Nosa Okunbor, confirmed that all injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals and that no lives were lost. “Further investigations revealed that the bus heading towards Iyana Ipaja, in an attempt to avoid crushing a commercial motorcyclist with passengers, collided with an oncoming BRT bus,” Okunbor said. He added that two tow trucks were deployed to remove the damaged buses and restore traffic flow.

Earlier in March 2023, at least two people were confirmed dead and over 80 injured when a Lagos State Government staff bus was struck by a train at the PWD rail crossing in Ikeja. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the bus was attempting to cross the tracks when it was trapped by the oncoming train.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who described the incident as tragic, commiserated with the victims and their families, and thanked Lagosians who assisted emergency responders during the rescue operation.

More recently, in August 2024, ten passengers were injured when a BRT bus ran into an abandoned pedestrian bridge foot near Iyana Ipaja bridge. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident, saying it caused significant disruption to traffic in the area.

LASTMA and LASEMA have repeatedly warned motorists and commercial transport operators against using the BRT corridor illegally, noting that such actions have led to preventable accidents and injuries.