The average commuter in Lagos spends over 3 hours in traffic everyday
○ Makes Lagos one of the most congested cities in the world
● 40% of new cars in Nigeria are registered in Lagos → occupies just 1% of the country’s total area
Problems caused by traffic congestion:
● Time consuming/inconvenient
● Waste of energy and cars age quickly
● Ver y high levels of air and noise pollution → 5x higher than the internationally recommended limit
● Affects the economy if people are constantly late for work
● Small streets cannot contain all the cars → leads to accidents
○ Fatal accident rate = 28 out of 100,000 → 3x higher than the rate of European countries
● Rules of traffic are very inconsistent (eg/ jumping lights)Efforts made to reduce traffic congestion:
● Integrated transport system
○ Road, rail and waterway networks link together in order to make easier journeys/simpler routes
○ Would help reduce congestion
○ Helps to balance out the commuting population between 3 means of transport
● New waterway network of ferries
○ Allow people to travel on water
○ Less congestion on roads
○ Water body around Lagos is put to good use
● More efficient road network
○ Separate bus lanes
○ Less traffic → cars won’t have to wait behind buses
○ Removing obstacles (eg/ street vendors) will create more space for vehicles
■ May have an impact on those working in the market /informal economy
● Better urban planning
○ The city will be able to foresee Lagos in the near future
○ Prepares them for any major changes
○ Reducing the amount of journeys will decrease congestion
○ Decrease in the levels of carbon in the atmosphereNew airport of the Lekki Peninsula
○ The new airport is away from the congested area of Lagos
○ Lagos will be more efficient with their airlines
○ The airport will have more space to develop/take in more trade
○ Will help Lagos economically as well
● Better walking and cycling facilities/paths
○ Cars will not be stuck behind slow cyclists /walkers
○ There is less risk of accidents
