Equity in the Lagos Urban Transport Project (LUTP)

What the paper says

Research methodology This case study is based on a qualitative synthesis of secondary data, including project appraisal documents, independent evaluation reports, resettlement action plans, academic publications, NGO assessments and media coverage of the Lagos Urban Transport Project (LUTP). Key sources include official reports from the World Bank, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD); policy briefs by civil society organisations; peer-reviewed articles on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system performance and transport equity; and field-level data on stakeholder engagement practices. The case draws extensively on real events such as the Mile 12-Ikorodu BRT extension, trader relocations and the 2022 Bamise Ayanwole incident to illustrate the dynamics of consultation, displacement and legitimacy in urban infrastructure delivery. Appendix 1 provides a list of abbreviations. Case overview/synopsis This teaching case explores the challenges of inclusive planning and participatory governance in the context of large-scale infrastructure development in Lagos, Nigeria, through the leadership dilemma faced by Abimbola Akinajo, Managing Director of the LAMATA. It focuses on the LUTP, a World Bank– and AFD-supported initiative implemented by the LAMATA to modernise public transport through BRT and rail integration. While LUTP had achieved notable operational successes, such as reduced travel times and improved corridor efficiency, it had also generated tensions around displacement, procedural consultation and limited community influence over key decisions. The case centres on a forward-looking dilemma for Akinajo: as she led LAMATA’s preparations to expand the Mile 12-Ikorodu BRT corridor and integrate with the Blue Line rail system, it must decide whether to maintain the agency’s top-down consultation model or shift towards genuine co-design with affected communities. Complexity academic level This case is designed for postgraduate students in Project and Programme Management and Operations Management. It is also useful for higher-level undergraduate students in Management and Leadership and Public Policy and Administration.