The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has reiterated that the travel cowry card remains the sole accepted mode of payment for all state-owned transport systems, as confirmed by Mr Kolawole Ojelabi, the Managing Director of LAMATA, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Ojelabi’s statement comes in response to commuters’ grievances regarding certain mini shuttle buses insisting on cash payments instead of allowing passengers to tap in with their cowry cards.
Acknowledging the importance of feedback for identifying service gaps, Ojelabi urged commuters to report such incidents by providing details of the buses involved, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing such issues promptly.
“When you see a thing like that, just snap the bus and send it to me. The only way for us to know is to have information, and we’ll deal with them,” Ojelabi stated, underscoring the necessity for passengers to utilize their cowry cards and denouncing cash collections as a circumvention of the system.
He further addressed concerns raised by commuters regarding malfunctioning tap devices on some buses, urging individuals to report such incidents to LAMATA for resolution.
Residents shared their experiences with NAN, highlighting instances where drivers insisted on cash payments or directed passengers to tap in from other buses due to faulty devices.
Expressing frustration, a commuter mentioned the inconvenience caused by drivers’ refusal to accept cowry cards, especially after topping up their cards for the month. Another recounted being asked to pay in cash while attempting to board a shuttle bus to Egbeda.
Similarly, a sales representative expressed concern over the lack of transparency in cash transactions and the potential inconvenience faced by passengers without cash on hand.
A cleric noted a trend of mini shuttle buses demanding cash payments, particularly in the evening, suggesting a perception among drivers that evening operations entitled them to collect cash fares.