Lagos State, Nigeria’s bustling commercial hub, is widely known for its rich culture, thriving markets, and intense economic activity. Yet, for many residents and businesses, one enduring challenge overshadows these positives which is chronic traffic congestion, particularly during peak commuting hours.
From 6:00 am to 10:00 am and 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, roads across Lagos become increasingly difficult to navigate as millions of commuters move between the mainland and island for work and personal commitments. According to a correspondent who frequently travels for site installations, traffic congestion doesn’t just cause delays, it significantly disrupts productivity and well-being. “Traffic while coming to the mainland just alters my system completely. It’s uncomfortable, and deadlines often get missed,” he explained.
According to Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the root causes of congestion in Lagos are numerous and deeply systemic. These include a fragmented and poorly coordinated informal transport network, frequent breakdowns of heavy-duty vehicles, non-compliance with traffic regulations (e.g., illegal parking, driving against traffic) as well as street trading and indiscriminate loading/offloading of passengers and goods.
These issues are compounded by poorly maintained roads, insufficient alternate routes, and widespread reliance on a few major arterial roads. “Whenever there’s an accident, roadwork, or breakdown, it creates a ripple effect of gridlock,” Taofiq noted.
A recent incident, triggered by the sudden closure of the Independence Bridge and a heavy early morning downpour, left several major roads paralyzed. Commuters reportedly spent over six hours on journeys that typically take two to three, while transport fares spiked by more than 100%. “Some days I get to work already exhausted. There was a time I fell sick after a stressful commute and had to take a week off,” a citizen shared.
Similarly, another citizen describes the toll of navigating daily traffic from Egbeda to Ikeja as both physically and mentally draining. “Even when I manage to arrive early, I’m barely productive. By the time I return home, I’m completely burnt out,” he said.
Despite these challenges, the Lagos State Government is actively rolling out long-term solutions aimed at improving urban mobility. Among the ongoing and proposed interventions are an expansion of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) system (Blue and Red Lines), deployment of CCTV cameras at key traffic points, establishment of the Lagos Transport Police (LTP), implementation of the e-call up system to manage truck movement and a promotion of eco-friendly transport alternatives
Taofiq also disclosed plans for the introduction of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS), which includes a modern traffic control center and interlinked traffic signals designed to adapt in real-time. Furthermore, the government is developing eight Quality Bus Corridors (QBCs) and two major transport interchanges at Marina and Mile 2 to enhance the capacity and coverage of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network.
