The Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will use optimization and automation to boost ridership, expand the fleet size, and enable sustainable urban growth
Optibus, a global provider of public transportation optimization software, will become the planning, scheduling, and rostering software for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system of Lagos, Nigeria, as part of the provision of an intelligent transportation system (ITS) by CapitalCore, a leading technology and IT provider in the region. The move marks the creation of Nigeria’s first AI-powered BRT system and a significant step forward in modernizing public transportation in Lagos State.
Addressing Urban Challenges in Lagos
Since 2000, Lagos’ population has doubled to nearly 16 million, making it one of the world’s fastest growing cities and the most populous urban area in Africa. Despite relatively low rates of car ownership — 48% of households own a vehicle — the scale of the car-owning population has overwhelmed the city’s infrastructure. Commuters can spend up to three hours in traffic each day and vehicle emissions contribute to Lagos’ rank as the 10th most polluted city in Africa.
At the same time, public transportation demand among the 52% of car-less households is immense. This has given way to a highly fragmented, unregulated transportation sector comprising many independent private operators of minibuses (danfo), midi-buses (molue), and more, but that lack the standardized routes or timetables needed to provide reliable transportation services.
Lagos' population boom has overwhelmed the city’s road infrastructure, with commuters spending up to three hours in traffic each day.
Revolutionizing Lagos’ Public Transportation: A Vision for Efficient Growth
As a major financial and economic hub that will continue to expand, Lagos has embarked on a comprehensive plan to use public transportation to foster efficient urban growth. Bus Rapid Transit is central to this strategy. With support from the World Bank, the Lagos BRT opened in 2008 as Africa's first bus rapid transit system.
Today, Lagos is working to upgrade its BRT services in order to increase ridership beyond the current 4.5 million annual passengers, further reducing traffic and emissions. Plans to reduce wait times, improve the passenger experience, and ease movement include the introduction of 2,000 new buses to the BRT fleet and the adoption of new planning and scheduling optimization software.
The Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will adopt a new intelligent transportation system (ITS) to help relieve the city of vehicle congestion and emissions, increase ridership, and reduce wait times.
Introducing New Technologies to Drive Service Transformation
The adoption of Optibus' public transportation optimization software marks the historic transition of Lagos' BRT to a fully digital platform for the first time and the creation of the first bus rapid transit system in Nigeria powered by artificial intelligence and optimization algorithms. By replacing traditional, time-consuming methods with Optibus’ cloud computing and automation capabilities, the BRT’s operational teams will achieve unprecedented speed and agility in evaluating alternative service plans and choosing the optimal option for incorporating more vehicles and supporting the city’s mission to boost ridership, reduce emissions, and accommodate the growing population.
Optibus’ cloud-native, collaborative platform supports seamless vendor integration and inter-agency coordination, fostering stronger public-private partnerships. Advanced insight tools will provide visibility into key performance indicators, such as cost savings, vehicle efficiency, and on-time performance, enabling the enhancement of service quality for millions of Lagosians and the discovery of significant operational efficiencies.
In Optibus' Planning product, agencies and cities can create optimal timetables that meet their business goals, as well as optimizing for on-time performance (OTP) and service level needs.
This initiative builds on Optibus' work with BRT providers in cities including Rio de Janeiro and Sorocaba in Brazil, and its application in similarly complex, evolving urban environments such as Kampala, Uganda.
“Effective public transportation is a key enabler of sustainable urban development that benefits people, economies, and the environment. Optibus’ software is poised to set a new standard for mobility innovation in Nigeria, introducing technologies that will make passenger transport in Lagos State a precedent in the region,” said Amos Haggiag, CEO and co-founder of Optibus.
"The roll-out of Optibus’ software at the Lagos BRT will demonstrate the impact of new optimization technologies in the region and improve access to these tools not only in Nigeria, but across other African nations," said Endurance Umenzeh-Nwauwah, Managing Director, CapitalCore Outsourcing Limited.
Want to learn more about the project? Contact regional director, Africa, Brian Mwongera at brian.mwongera@optibus.com.
Further Reading:
- Case Study: How automation with Optibus improved BRT Sorocaba’s scheduling speed
- Case Study: How Arriva UK improved reliability and frequency using Optibus
- Greater Portland Metro selects Optibus and Equans for new intelligent transportation system (ITS)
- Webinar: How to Plan for 2025: Expert Insights for Future-Ready Public Transportation
