Lagos transport is easier to plan by corridor and time of day than by mode. The bus that works at 10am fails at 7am. The rail line that saves you an hour only helps if it runs near both ends of your trip.
This guide sets out how the main options work, what the published fare guidance says, and the checks to make before you pay. Fares move, so treat every figure below as a starting point to confirm, not a fixed price.
Fare figures checked against published 2026 transport guides. They are reported estimates, not official LAMATA or FAAN tariffs. Confirm the current fare at the terminal or in the app.
Key Takeaways
- BRT costs far less than any taxi on the corridors it serves, with published 2026 guidance around ₦300 to ₦1,000 depending on stops.
- The Blue Line runs Marina to Mile 2. A 2026 guide lists ₦750 full line, with an off-peak discount reported between 10:00 and 16:00.
- Uber stopped operating in Nigeria on 2 September 2026. Bolt and inDrive remain, so ignore guides that still list Uber.
- Allow two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one, as FAAN publishes.
- Agree the fare before you board any street taxi or keke. Ask for the price in naira, not “how much it costs”.
The Main Ways to Move Around Lagos
| Mode | What it costs | Best for | Confirm before you travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRT bus | Reported at about ₦300 to ₦500 for 1 to 5 stops, ₦400 to ₦700 for 6 to 10 stops, ₦500 to ₦1,000 for 11 or more | Fixed corridors at busy times | The fare for your actual route at the terminal |
| Danfo and keke | Set per trip by the crew, varies by route and hour | Short hops off the BRT corridors | The fare before you sit down |
| Blue Line rail | Full line fare listed at ₦750 in a 2026 guide, with an off-peak discount reported | Marina to Mile 2 without road traffic | Whether the discount applies at your travel time |
| Ride-hailing | App quote per trip, surges in rain and at peak hours | Door to door, airport runs | The quote and the pickup point before you confirm |
No single fare table covers Lagos. Each operator sets its own price, and a route that passes through three local government areas can change fare mid-journey.
BRT Buses and the Cowry Card
The Bus Rapid Transit network runs on dedicated corridors through the city, with fixed stops and set fares. It is the cheapest reliable way to cross long distances, and the busiest routes run well past midnight.
You pay with a Cowry Card. Reported prices for the card sit between about ₦500 and ₦1,000 as a one-off fee, with a minimum top-up of ₦500. LAMATA does not publish a card price on its schedule pages, so ask at the terminal or check the app before you queue.
Check before you join a queue: whether the stop you are standing at serves your direction, where the card top-up point is, and whether the bus you want closes before evening traffic peaks.
For a cheaper room near a BRT corridor, see our guide to cheap hotels in Yaba and hotels in Surulere.
Rail: Blue Line and Red Line
Blue Line
The Blue Line carries passengers between Marina and Mile 2. A published 2026 fare guide lists the full journey at ₦750, with a 25 per cent discount reported between 10:00 and 16:00. At that discount the full line works out at about ₦562.
Confirm the fare at the station on the day. Discount windows and card rules are not set out in an official schedule you can check in advance.
Red Line
The Red Line is reported to run between Agbado and Oyingbo, with nine weekday trips and no regular weekend service. LAMATA received a 15-year operating licence on 30 June 2026, and the stated target is 24 daily services before the end of 2026.
A target is not a timetable. Check whether the extra trips have started before you build a journey around the train.
Both lines only help if they connect with the rest of your route. Expect to combine a train or bus leg with a short ride-hail trip.
Danfo, Keke, and Street Taxis
Danfo minibuses and keke napep fill the gaps the BRT does not serve. They are cheap and frequent, and they have no fixed published tariff.
Agree the fare before you board. State your destination, ask for the price in naira, and settle any change before the vehicle moves. Handing over a note and expecting change back is how disputes start.
Ask someone at your hotel or shortlet what the normal fare is for the trip you plan to make. That gives you a benchmark to compare against the first price you are quoted.
Ride-Hailing: Bolt and inDrive
Bolt and inDrive still operate across Lagos. Uber ended its Nigerian operations on 2 September 2026, as reported at the time, so any guide that still recommends Uber is out of date.
Ride-hailing gives you a fixed quote before you travel, which is its main advantage over a street taxi. Surge pricing in rain and at peak hours can double that quote.
Check before you confirm: the pickup point (many estates and terminal roads have restricted access), the vehicle plate, and whether the fare shown includes tolls.
Before you travel, confirm what your shortlet or hotel offers. Our Lagos shortlet guide sets out what to ask about transport access before you book a room.
Airport Transfers and Timing
Allow two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one. That is FAAN’s published arrival guidance, and it assumes you are already at the terminal.
Getting to the airport is the part that varies. A run from Ikeja GRA takes minutes off-peak. The same distance through the Oshodi corridor at rush hour takes far longer, and rain adds more.
Do not treat any quoted airport fare as an official tariff. No current authority fare table is published for either terminal. Ask the airport taxi desk or check the app, then record the terminal, date, time, and whether airport charges are included.
One reported complication: FAAN directed airport managers on 30 July 2026 to stop Uber and Bolt commercial operations at FAAN-managed airports pending licence agreements, and Bolt was reported cleared to resume after ministerial intervention on 27 August. Confirm the current pickup arrangement at your terminal rather than assuming an app car can enter.
Official airport information is published by FAAN.
If you are flying in for a stay, read our guide on Uyo to Lagos flights before you fix your arrival time.
Pick Your Accommodation Around the Transport
Transport cost belongs in the accommodation decision. A room that saves ₦10,000 a night can cost more than that in fares if it sits across a bridge from everywhere you need to be.
Check the route for the times you will actually travel. Compare the address, not the district name, against the places on your itinerary.
Start with our guide on where to stay in Lagos, then compare specific options: affordable shortlets in Lagos, shortlets in Victoria Island, and hotels in Ikeja.
Travelling for an event? Confirm the venue first. Our guide on where Festac is located explains why a district name is not an address.
What to Confirm Before You Pay for a Journey
- The exact pickup point. A named terminal, gate, or junction. “Lagos” or “Ikeja” is not a location.
- The fare in naira. Ask whether tolls, airport charges, and waiting time are included.
- The payment channel. Pay inside the app or at a staffed desk. A transfer to a personal account gives you no dispute route.
- The journey time at your hour. Ask a local what the same trip takes in morning traffic, not at midday.
- Your records. Save the quote, the receipt, and the vehicle plate before you set off.
Refuse any journey where the price changes after you have agreed it, or where the driver will not state a fare before moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to use BRT or a ride-hailing app in Lagos?
BRT is far cheaper on the corridors it serves, with reported fares between about ₦300 and ₦1,000 depending on distance. A ride-hailing trip costs more and saves you the walk to a stop and the change of vehicle.
Does Lagos have a working train?
Yes. The Blue Line runs Marina to Mile 2, and the Red Line is reported to run Agbado to Oyingbo on weekdays. Neither covers the whole city, so most journeys combine rail with a bus or app car.
Can I still use Uber in Lagos?
No. Uber ended its Nigerian operations on 2 September 2026. Bolt and inDrive remain available.
How early should I reach the airport?
Two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one, per FAAN’s published guidance. Add travel time to the terminal on top of that.
Do I need a Cowry Card for the BRT?
You need a card to pay on the BRT network, and reported card prices sit between about ₦500 and ₦1,000 with a ₦500 minimum top-up. Confirm the current price at the terminal, since it is not published on LAMATA’s schedule pages.
Plan the Route, Then the Fare
Choose your transport by the corridor and the hour, not by the mode. Confirm the fare at the terminal or in the app before money moves, and keep the receipt.
None of the figures in this guide is a guarantee. They are published estimates that tell you what to expect and what to check, and the check is the part that protects your money.