The citizens of Lagos are the ones directly affected by any planned changes, so it’s important to look at what they think of the progress being made. The YouTube videos below were put out by Lagos news media and organizations. They are followed by comments that reveal several citizens’ responses. Although we can’t be certain that these commenters are Lagosians, their subscription and upload history suggest that most, if not all, are Nigerian.

LRMT Blue Line Project — LAMATA Half Hour

This video shows the plan for the Blue Rail Line currently in development. The video is one thing, but the comments tell a different story. The video was put out by LAMATA (Lagos Mass Area Transit Authority) to show the plan and progress on the rail line. It was meant to show progress and encourage people in Lagos, but the comments make it clear that the people of Lagos was immediate action. The following are comments on under the youtube video:

but why cant the goverment just construct the real infrastructures… how long will it takes them to put all these in place?.. we not interested in your 3D graphics we want real and physically seen railways not these fake post.

isaac ADENIRAN

100 years to put it in place

OCOMPO BODE

These comments emphasize that the rate of the change in Lagos is too slow to have a felt impact at the moment. Plans for the rail line have been in talks since the early 2000s, so it is not surprising that people are unimpressed by the lack of tangible progress that has been made.

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Lagos Set To Introduce 5,000 New Buses — Channels Television

In 2018, Lagos was set to introduce 5000 new BRT buses to the system in order to streamline transport even more, but the people living in the city don’t seem to think this is the way to go. Some of the comments say:

Why not build tram and metro train system instead of buying thousands of busses to congest the road. Trams will greatly decongest the road and the are safer and cheaper to run than busses

T N. L

What Lagos need is to introduce rail train in this region. Train is the only solution and not thousands of buses. Too many buses will male matters worst

Emvevo 212

A metro system is really what people in the city want, but it seems like LAMATA is prioritizing buses, which to most of the population, isn’t a viable solution to their day to day problems.

Governor Ambode, Lagos State Government Bans Danfo (Yellow) Buses — Pulse Nigeria

It seems clear that road transport isn’t the way forward for Lagos. Developments, while decreasing commute times slightly, is nothing compared the improvements that would come with actually getting the rail line up and running. But in the meantime to reduce congestion, the governor of Lagos has made multiple announcements over the years that that danfos will be phased out and replaced with other systems. Though some people in the comments disagree with such sudden and drastic changes.

The government should make alternatives before banning yellow buses or make them more professional and more regulated. They should wear Uniforms, Bus colors etc..

MrSivram28

Banning of the Danfo bus without metro and other good substitute isn’t kul.

Israel Solomon

These people don’t seem to think there are viable alternatives in place to justify scrapping the entire system. Seemingly, the only way to really reduce congestion is to create alternatives that naturally reduce the demand for danfos. This won’t happen by just banning them and hoping other systems fill in the void.