Lagos State, the commercial hub of Nigeria, is losing N4 trillion yearly to traffic congestion.
A recent study by the Danne Institute for Research disclosed this on Wednesday.
The study, titled ‘Behavioural Causes of Traffic Congestion in Lagos,’ funded by the Bank of Industry and Africa Finance Corporation, stressed the need for immediate action to alleviate the economic and social toll on the residents.
According to the Executive Director of the Danne Institute for Research, Franca Ovadje, the staggering loss could otherwise be directed towards vital sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
The report identifies behavioural factors as the primary culprits, including poor road infrastructure, violation of traffic laws, activities of ‘agberos’ at bus stops, and buses picking up passengers.
Ovadje emphasized that the 21 million-strong population of Lagos is not translating into corresponding productivity due to the crippling impact of traffic jams on daily life.
The report indicated that doubling the population in developing countries should result in a 5 to 6 per cent growth in productivity.
The report also highlighted that Lagosians spend an average of 2.21 hours commuting daily, with 45 per cent 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.
