Most bus vendors(conductors) are bold and cunning. It's either they overcharge you or they don't want to give you the remainder on the money you give them.

To win them in any case, ensure you do the following:

1. Tell them where you're going exactly before boarding their bus. If you tell them after boarding, you are at their mercy by the time they will tell you your fare. This is very important because after the whole seats have been filled, you may hear something like, '#200 any bus stop.' At that point, you don't have choice again but to pay if you didn't tell him you won't reach the last bus stop.



2. Don't forget to negotiate fare before boarding. Once there's an agreed fare between the two of you, it will be hard for them to increase yours even if they charge higher fare for those that join the bus after you.



3. Try to have the exact amount of the fare on you. If you want to pay #50 fare but you give the conductor #1000, just know that you're in for trouble. If the argument gets wild, people will eventually blame you for inconveniencing the conductor with such a huge money because of just #50. Conductors now conduct wedding ceremonies for their disobedient passengers. Once they shout 'enter with your change o, this one just dey start work today, abeg I no get change o.' If you go ahead to give them large denomination, you are on your way to the altar with another disobedient passenger like you. So, to avoid such embarrassment and delay, try to have your exact fare when going out.


4. You should know how to talk and argue but in a civil way. If you're new in Lagos and one Lagos conductor shouts at you, you may not like Lagos again. To deal with them, you too must be firm in your argument especially if you're right; otherwise, those conductors will not cease to cheat you.

That number 4 is important because if you're too gentle, the conductors will always pounce on you in the same manner bull dogs pounce on their victims.