LAMATA inaugurates ‘Soro Soke,’ campaigns against sexual harassment in public transport
By Elegbede Abiodun
The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority has inaugurated a new campaign to tackle sexual harassment across public transport systems in Lagos
The campaign, tagged ‘Soro Soke’ (Speak Up), was inaugurated on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ engagement held at LAMATA’s headquarters.
“The initiative seeks to improve commuter safety and promote a gender-equitable and inclusive transport system, particularly for female passengers.
“With the ‘Soro Soke’ campaign, LAMATA reinforces its resolve to make Lagos public transport safer, more inclusive, and responsive, ensuring that every voice matters and every commuter is protected,” LAMATA said.
The engagement formed part of EMPOWER Project 3, which focuses on addressing sexual harassment in informal transport spaces.
The project is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and managed by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie).
According to LAMATA, the EMPOWER initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of transport professionals while prioritising the safety and dignity of women who rely on public transport.
Speaking at the event, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, commended LAMATA for its sustained implementation of the EMPOWER programme over the past five years.
He stressed the importance of breaking the culture of silence surrounding sexual harassment and urged victims and witnesses to report incidents.
In her remarks, the Managing Director of LAMATA, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, reaffirmed LAMATA’s commitment to sustaining the campaign, noting that the Authority would continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure safer transport environments for all commuters.
Key outcomes of the engagement include plans to increase surveillance through the deployment of additional LNSC personnel at more Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations and terminals, as well as enhanced advocacy through the rollout of the ‘Soro Soke’ campaign.
The campaign encourages reporting through QR codes placed at transport hubs across the state.
LAMATA said the initiative reinforces its resolve to make public transport in Lagos safer, more inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all commuters.
The event featured a panel that included Osiyemi, Akinajo, and the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi.
Also in attendance were representatives of key transport and safety stakeholders, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), LAGFERRY, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL), and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), alongside civil society organisations such as Oneness Transport and WARIF.
