Five ways Lagos is trying to solve its ugly traffic problem

Traffic congestion costs the economy of Lagos billions of naira daily. An unhealthy situation for Nigeria’s commercial hub which is home to some 20 million people and the sixth-largest economy in Africa.

Due to an unmet demand for traffic, it faces a major obstacle in the suppressed productivity of its residents and skilled labour force caused by constant traffic and poor road networks.

The 6.39 million employed in Lagos spend an average of 2.21 hours in traffic daily losing the equivalent of N1,1180 per hour in wages or N17m daily, according to Danne Institute for Research. Long commutes between where Lagosians live and work is the cause of unending traffic jams. Every day 8 million people move about in five million cars on a network to 9,204 roads between the mainland and island in Nigeria’s smallest state in terms of landmass.

Federick Oladehinde, Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State said that Lagos residents and businesses are struggling with productivity due to issues related to mobility which is limiting the economic prospects of the state, adding that half of the people in Lagos state spend approximately 40 percent of their income on transport-related expenses.

Oladeinde who represented the Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos state, was speaking at a transport and traffic conference organised by BusinessDay and Danne Institute for Research themed “Connectivity and productivity in Lagos megacity”.

“Transportation infrastructure is critical to sustaining economic growth, by 2030 and with the growing population, it is necessary to provide a sustainable way of moving people from one place to another which is one of the reasons Lagos invests heavily in its infrastructure,” Oladehinde said.

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He said the state government will spend 40 percent of it’s capital expenditure on infrastructure in 2021, in addition to some reformative steps in correcting the transport challenges.

Franca Ovadje, founder and executive director of Danne Institute of Research in her presentation highlighted that “Lagos, with its supply of skilled labour, a large market where businesses can thrive, is not reaping the dividend of economic density”.

To realise the productivity gains from density and connectivity that global cities around the world enjoy, Oladeinde listed some of the major plans of Lagos to improve its infrastructure and alleviate mobility challenges of its residents, he said.

First, Lagos is moving to develop and maximise existing road networks by removing 60 gridlock points (roundabouts) and fixing potholes on all the roads which will improve the capacity of the roads coupled with a massive drainage programme.

Second, Lagos state is deploying advanced technology to ensure strict compliance with traffic laws which concerned regulatory agencies like Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will adopt in providing services.

Third is the continued upgrade and expansion of the public transport system which will be attractive to residents.

This will include six more transport corridors to accommodate more routes both on the island and the mainland in addition to the Blue Line as well as a rail network.

Fourth is placing restrictions on trucks such that they are only available when necessary thereby reducing pressure on major bridges like the third mainland bridge, Carter Bridge, Eko bridge, among others.

Fifth is the improvement of the waterways to reduce movement on roads and ensure that residents get to their locations faster.

Ogho Okiti, BusinessDay’s MD, said in his remark that in positioning Lagos state for progress, it is necessary to build the infrastructure to solve the traffic problem adding that as an economic hub businesses are established daily, however full productivity of these businesses is what will aid economic growth.