LAMATA Deploys More BRT Buses To Elepe As Diaspora Group Funds Ella’s Transport For Safety

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) increased the number of BRT buses operating at Elepe on Thursday morning, deploying between 15 and 25 vehicles to ease movement for commuters after the recent incident at the terminal. The woman accused of confronting Ella at the station has also been removed. By about 7:30 a.m., the usual long lines were absent, although reports indicated that seven additional buses were positioned nearby. The area had a noticeable presence of a few area boys, officers of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), members of the LAMATA monitoring team, and other concerned residents. It remains unclear whether Ella returned to the BRT station to commute on Thursday. Meanwhile, a group of Nigerians in the diaspora led by DJ Obi and Keniye Koroye raised an undisclosed sum to support her transportation to work using Bolt rides for the time being, citing concerns about her safety at the terminal. Their fears appeared to reflect sentiments expressed on the ground, where some discussions among individuals present suggested a belief that Ella had been planted to mobilise people to burn BRT buses. Ella is said to be safe and is expected to release a final update soon.

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Lagos TikToker Harassed While Exposing Long Queues, Bus Shortages at Ikorodu BRT Terminal

A Lagos-based TikTok creator has alleged harassment while documenting severe bus shortages and long queues at the Ikorodu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) terminal, highlighting the daily difficulties faced by thousands of commuters. “I got harassed on the queue because I spoke up,” the creator, known on TikTok as darkskinnedella (@ella_the_fashionistar), said in a video shared Wednesday, recounting the incident. A videographer and video editor, she moved to Lagos between September and October 2025 and has been sharing videos of her daily commute to Lagos Island, showing the realities of navigating the BRT system. The Lagos BRT, regulated by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) but operated by private companies like Primero Transport Services Limited, often sees commuters waiting for hours before boarding. In her videos, the TikToker showed lines stretching for long distances, with passengers spending over two hours to get a bus. “People use BRT because it has its own lane,” she said. “Even when I arrive early, I sometimes spend over two hours before boarding.” Evening commutes are equally problematic, with similar delays for buses returning commuters home. The situation escalated Tuesday when she clashed with a woman at the terminal who demanded she stop filming. “If they provided buses for us, I would stop. But I spend five minutes or more in the queue, I will make videos,” she said. The woman suggested she arrive earlier, prompting a heated exchange about bus availability. In another video, a staff member attempted to seize her phone while she continued recording, leading to a tense confrontation. She also alleged that a man threatened her over the videos, claiming people had reported seeing him in the footage. The TikToker further revealed that several BRT buses had been chartered for an event, contributing to the shortage that morning. “Almost all the BRT buses were chartered for an event. They knew people had to go to work, yet we still stood for hours,” she said, eventually leaving the terminal after 9 a.m. Her videos have sparked renewed discussion about the management of Lagos’ BRT system and the daily struggles of its commuters. Ella the BRT content creator just shared another video of a man thr3&tening to h&rm her tomorrow morning if she makes another video. And the people in the bus sat there and didn’t even take her side. This country is gone. https://t.co/MrmkM1eynO pic.twitter.com/EIBi2QbWmc — 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@AsakyGRN) March 11, 2026

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