Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, has warned that commuters who pay cash for rides on regulated public transport services will face penalties beginning August 1 as the state moves to fully enforce its cashless fare payment policy.
According to the authority, the enforcement is aimed at strengthening accountability, promoting transparency and ensuring full compliance with the use of electronic payment systems across regulated transport operations.
LAMATA made this known during an X Space discussion with transport stakeholders and industry leaders on Tuesday, themed “Lagos Cashless Transit: What Aug. 1 Enforcement Means to You.”
The agency also urged passengers to report any driver or conductor demanding cash payments through its official email channels or customer service lines.
Speaking during the session, LAMATA’s Head of Legal, Idris Akinola, said the laws and regulations governing the authority require commuters to pay fares on regulated public transport services through the approved electronic platform, the Cowry Card.
He added that existing Lagos State laws classify both the giving and receiving of unauthorised payments as offences, noting that in this context, offering or accepting cash could amount to bribery.
“This means both the person offering cash and the person accepting it may be held liable under the applicable laws,” Akinola said.
He advised transport operators to engage trustworthy drivers and conductors, while also encouraging them to conduct random internal checks to ensure staff comply with the cashless policy and cooperate with LAMATA’s enforcement inspections.
Akinola warned that offenders could face severe penalties, stating that both
This post was originally published on this site.
