The financial center of Nigeria, Lagos, is losing an astounding N4 trillion a year due to severe traffic congestion, according to a recent study by the Danne Institute for Research. Titled “Behavioural Causes of Traffic Congestion in Lagos,” the study was funded by the Bank of Industry and Africa Finance Corporation and stressed the urgency of taking immediate action to lessen the negative social and economic effects. The study was presented on Wednesday in Lagos and was led by Franca Ovadje, the Executive Director of the Danne Institute for Research. The enormous loss could be allocated to essential areas like infrastructure development, healthcare, and education.
According to the report, behavioral factors—such as inadequate road infrastructure, breaking traffic laws, agberos at bus stops, and buses picking up passengers—are the main culprits. Ovadje stressed that the crippling effects of traffic jams on daily life prevent Lagos’ 21 million inhabitants from being productive, and the report suggests that doubling the population in developing nations should lead to a 5–6% increase in productivity. Respondents, who cited traffic congestion as their top challenge, suggested solutions that center on building, repairing, and maintaining roads, as well as prohibiting agberos and strictly enforcing traffic laws.
The report calls on government authorities to prioritize these recommendations to enhance productivity, attract investments, and generate substantial internally generated revenue through law enforcement.
The report also highlights that Lagosians spend an average of 2.21 hours commuting daily, with 45 percent spending more than two hours.
“Areas like Ajah, Etiosa, and Apapa bear the brunt, necessitating urgent measures such as nighttime road construction, creation of alternative routes during construction, and strict enforcement of traffic laws,” the report noted.
As the Lagos State Government concludes works on the Lekki Coastal Road Construction, the report advocates for sustained efforts to prevent further traffic woes.
It calls for strict penalties, and increased deployment of LASTMA officials, police, and even soldiers to manage traffic effectively.
The report concludes by urging a comprehensive campaign against touts and corrupt traffic wardens to restore discipline and order to Lagos roads, essential for transforming the city into a livable and prosperous metropolis.
In 2022, former Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Transport, Taiwo Salaam, said if the traffic congestion in the densely populated Lagos should continue unaddressed till 2030, the city is estimated to lose as much as $21bn every month.
