BRT: Cowry card replaces cash payment on Ikorodu-TBS buses

The Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) will commence fare collection on bus services offered by Primero Transport Services, with the use of Lagos State travel known as cowry card on February 1.

Managing Director, LAMATA, Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, said this in a statement signed by the agency’s Assistant Director, Corporate Communication, Mr Kolawole Ojelabi, on Sunday in Lagos.

According to her, the cowry card is currently in use on the Oshodi-Abule Egba Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

She said the Primero Transport Services Ltd, operator of the Ikorodu-TBS BRT, would commence the use of cowry card on February 1.

The LAMATA boss said the card would henceforth be the only mode of fare payment and administration of regulated transport services in the state.

Akinajo explained that following the launch of the expanded e-ticketing system by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in August 2020, the use of the card had become imperative to reduce cash transactions in transport operations.

She said that reduction of cash transactions in transport operations would protect stakeholders’ investment in the sector.

Akinajo also said a novel community bus scheme, First Mile and Last Mile (FMLM) Scheme, would be launched soon as a feeder system to transport services on the main transport corridors.

The existing regulated transport operators in the state are Primero Transport Services Limited, Lagos Bus Services Ltd, Amalgamated Transport Services Ltd, TJ Motors, and Transport Service Ltd.

“The services of FMLM would also run using the cowry card,” Akinajo added.

She urged commuters to embrace the use of the card which would soon be extended to other transport services such as water and rail transportation in 2022 to ease access to transport services in the state.