Starting August 1, 2026, commuters who pay cash for services on Lagos’ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Bus Reform Initiative (BRI), and Lagos Rail services will face arrest and prosecution. The enforcement is part of an expanded cashless fare policy announced by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

Until now, enforcement of the state’s cashless fare policy had focused mainly on bus operators and ticketing personnel who collected cash outside the approved Cowry Card system. Under the new directive, passengers who knowingly pay cash on BRT, BRI, and Lagos Rail services will also be liable.

LAMATA said the move is intended to eliminate revenue leakages, strengthen the state’s electronic fare collection infrastructure, and improve transparency across Lagos’ regulated transport network. Commuters have been directed to use approved digital payment channels, with the Cowry Card remaining the primary accepted method across the three regulated transport services.

The Cowry Card system was introduced as part of Lagos State’s effort to digitise public transport payments, reduce cash handling across the network, and create a more auditable record of fare revenues. It is currently accepted on the Bus Rapid Transit network, on Bus Rapid Infrastructure routes, and within the Lagos Rail Mass Transit system that connects Mile 2 to Marina. For a city with one of the busiest commuter flows in the country, the shift matters because it ties everyday travel more closely to digital fare infrastructure already in use across the regulated network.

LAMATA said enforcing the rules for commuters is necessary because cash payments are still taking place, even after operators were previously warned. According to the agency, passenger behaviour has continued to sustain cash transactions despite earlier measures targeting operators.

Commuters have only a few days to ensure their Cowry Cards are active and that they have sufficient fare credit. LAMATA has not announced any grace period after August 1, meaning passengers using regulated buses without a valid digital payment method from that date could be arrested.

Cowry Cards can be obtained and recharged at designated points in the transport network, including BRT terminals and select agent locations across Lagos. For regular users who have been paying cash, whether out of habit, convenience, or because they had not been stopped previously, the agency said immediate action is needed.

LAMATA advised passengers to make sure their cards are active and loaded before boarding, noting that enforcement will take place at the beginning of the journey rather than afterwards. The agency did not specify what documentation or identification passengers may need to carry, but urged all commuters to use only approved digital channels going forward.

Also read: Why ₦500,000 is the minimum wage for independent living in Lagos | Cowrywise report