A Lagos-based TikTok creator has alleged harassment after documenting long queues and severe bus shortages at the Ikorodu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) terminal, drawing fresh attention to the daily commuting challenges faced by thousands of residents along one of the state’s busiest transport corridors.
The content creator, known on TikTok as darkskinnedella (@ella_the_fashionistar), said she was confronted while recording the situation at the terminal earlier this week.
In a video posted on Wednesday, the videographer and editor recounted her experience, saying she was challenged by individuals after speaking about the difficulties commuters face while waiting for buses.
“I got harassed on the queue because I spoke up,” she said in the video.
The creator explained that since relocating to Lagos between September and October 2025, she has been sharing videos of her daily commute to Lagos Island, highlighting what she described as the realities of navigating the city’s public transport system.
The BRT system, which runs on dedicated lanes designed to ease traffic congestion, is regulated by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, while daily operations are handled by private bus operators, including Primero Transport Services Limited.
In several clips shared on TikTok, the creator showed long lines of commuters waiting for buses at the Ikorodu terminal, claiming that some passengers spend more than two hours before boarding.
She said her workday begins at 9 a.m., forcing her to wake up around 4 a.m. to prepare and leave home early enough to reach the terminal between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m.
Despite arriving early, she said the queues remain overwhelming.
“Why people use BRT is because it has its own lane,” she said while filming commuters waiting in line, explaining that the system is often faster and cheaper than other commercial transport options.
However, the situation appeared to escalate on Tuesday when she recorded a confrontation with a woman who told her to stop filming inside a BRT bus.
In the video, the creator insisted she would continue documenting the situation until the bus shortage improved.
“If they provided buses for us, I will stop. If I come to this queue and spend more than five minutes, I will make videos,” she said.
Another clip posted Wednesday appeared to show a woman the creator identified as a staff member attempting to prevent her from recording.
“Don’t make any video today. If you make any video today, I will seize your phone,” the woman was heard saying, while holding the TikToker’s bag during the exchange.
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The creator responded by insisting she had the right to document the situation, pointing out that commuters were still waiting in line due to the shortage of buses.
“There is no bus, so I will make my video,” she said during the confrontation.
In a separate recording taken later inside a bus, the creator also alleged that a man confronted and threatened her after seeing himself in one of the videos.
“This man threatened to deal with me,” she claimed.
She further alleged that the shortage may have been worsened after several BRT buses were reportedly chartered for an event, leaving fewer vehicles available for regular commuters that morning.
“I was shocked when I found out that almost all the BRT buses got chartered for an event,” she said, adding that she eventually left the terminal after 9 a.m. without boarding a bus.
When contacted for comment regarding the alleged harassment and the reported shortage of buses, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority requested that inquiries be sent via formal email. A response from the agency was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.
Complaints about bus shortages along BRT routes are not new. Over the years, commuters have repeatedly reported long queues at major terminals, particularly along the busy Ikorodu corridor, due to limited bus availability.
Many residents rely heavily on the BRT system because fares are generally cheaper than commercial transport options, especially as transportation costs continue to rise across the city.
In 2023, the Lagos State Government introduced a 25 percent fare reduction across regulated bus and rail services following a directive from Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ease the financial burden on commuters.
Despite these measures, demand for the system continues to outstrip supply, leaving many Lagos residents enduring long waits each day as they struggle to get to work and return home.