User Acceptance and Satisfaction with 'Ogata' Electric Bus Services among Students and Staff at the University of Lagos

Abstract

Transportation is a very critical driver of all human activity. It is a sector that relies mainly on fossil fuels, which has made commuting within and outside the university campus more expensive because of the removal of fuel subsidies. In response to this challenge, the university management adopted renewable energy solutions, such as electric/solar-powered buses, which have gained global attention, to address the numerous issues hindering commuting among university students and staff. This study examined the operations of the Ogata Electric Bus at the University of Lagos, focusing on commuter usage acceptance, patterns, and satisfaction. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 370 respondents and analysed using SPSS version 26. The findings revealed that most commuters used the bus daily, primarily for academic purposes. Respondents expressed high satisfaction with cost (M = 4.2) and safety (M = 4.1), but only moderate satisfaction with comfort, accessibility, and convenience. The most pressing challenges identified were insufficient buses (59.5%), limited route coverage (48.6%), and irregular schedules (40.5%). Notably, the hypothesis tests confirmed that perceived cost-effectiveness significantly influenced patronage (r = 0.62, p < 0.001), and satisfaction differed significantly across commuter categories F (2, 367) = 4.56, p = 0.012). The study concludes that while the Ogata Electric Bus is an essential step toward sustainable transportation within Nigerian universities, its long-term success depends on addressing operational inefficiencies. The study recommends expanding fleet size, improving route coverage, strengthening maintenance capacity, and introducing supportive policies to enhance economic and environmental sustainability.