Nigerians Question BRT Lane Towing Penalties as World Adopts Automated Ticketing Systems

A viral video has sparked discussions about the lack of clear road signage and the absence of a viable traffic ticketing system in Lagos after a woman lamented the towing of her car for allegedly driving on an unmarked Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane while heading to her child’s convocation.

The video shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed the distraught mother questioning why her car must be towed instead of being issued a fine. “What is my offence that it cannot be forgiven?” she cried out.

Reacting to the video, many Nigerians shared similar experiences and criticised the Lagos State Government for handling traffic violations.

An X user, @Gfreezle, commented, I almost ran into a BRT lane somewhere in Alimosho too. The issue is either the signage is hidden or non-existent. Lagos State Government can do better with these road signs, I know a lot of people who won’t intentionally get themselves into these infractions.

Another user, @AdewaleMarvT, recalled an incident from 2021 when his car was falsely stopped on the Mile-12 bridge. He alleged that a police officer admitted to having a “daily target” for issuing BRT lane violation tickets. “If you have not found yourself in this kind of situation, you can’t relate to the pain of this woman,” he added.

The incident has also reignited criticism of Nigeria’s enforcement approach, particularly the lack of a structured ticketing system.

@fdmlearn, argued that in developed countries, authorities would simply issue a ticket and trace the violator later. “Nigeria police are as underdeveloped as undeveloped. Only to be extorting people they are good at. You don’t extort criminals to stop crime,” the user wrote.

Many have called for reforms, urging Lagos authorities to improve road signage and adopt a more efficient ticketing system instead of forcefully towing vehicles. In a report by Punch, places where there are unidentifiable signage posts for BRT lanes serve as extortion spots for Police Officers, who demand direct fines from unsuspecting commuters of both private and public vehicles.

The report stated that places like bus terminals around Ikorodu, Oshodi, Obalende, Yaba, Oyingbo, Mile 2, the Aswani area/7&8 on Airport Road, Anthony, and certain sections of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, including Ile Epo and Pleasure bus stops serve as the extortion spots in the state.

Recall that in November 2024, a commercial bus driver in Lagos set himself, his vehicle, and an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on fire in an attempt to evade arrest over a traffic violation. The driver was said to have resorted to this extreme measure after being flagged down by LASTMA officials for breaching traffic regulations.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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