By Onyinyechi Ugwoke.
Lagos is a congested city with attendant traffic jams. Despite being the smallest state in the country, it has the highest urban population. Commuters spend hours in traffic to and fro each day. Traffic challenges in Lagos is well known to all. Aside from the hustle and bustle of traders and motorists, office workers leave home as early as 4a.m to 5a.m in order to get to the office on time.
The Federal Road Safety, and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials work to ease flow of traffic but it is just not enough. Traffic congestion in Lagos can give one a mental breakdown – anxiety, depression, stress. Lagos traffic can also affect social life and cause disinterest in so many things. Losing concentration at work while thinking of how to beat traffic is common amongst Lagos commuters.
The causes of traffic congestion can be linked to truck drivers; the use of road space as unofficial bus stops, and intrusion by street trading and semi-official market activities. Most vehicles are parked on streets even in important central business districts such as Lagos Island and Ikeja. Then there are too many private and government owned buses and taxis on the roads.
Although many in Nigeria find the city alluring, especially for economic reasons, living in Lagos, the most stressful city in Nigeria can take a toll.
A somewhat disgruntled commuter Gbenga Fadeyi said, “I left my house at Ojota by 4.30 a.m, got to work at the Island at 9.10 a.m. It’s best if we can work from home.”
Mr Lekan, a bus driver said sometimes he doesn’t get the worth of the amount he spends on petrol after a day’s work.
Emeka, a business man, who parked his car at the entrance of his children’s school said, “I leave an hour early to pick my kids everyday because I don’t know where another traffic congestion will rise.”
The General manager, Lagos State Management Authority (LASTMA), Engr. Jide Oduyoye, admits that managing traffic in Lagos is a big challenge. “It is a populated city with many people residing and owning businesses in a particular area.”
Oduyoye said, the government is working to reduce traffic congestion in Lagos by improving water transportation. Lots of investment is going into acquiring boats, new BRT buses and building terminals for them. Also, work has started in rehabilitating roads and even building new ones, and traffic signalization is on-going in most junctions.
He expressed his disappointment at unruly motorists who harass LASTMA officials that are doing their best to ease flow of traffic in the state.
Oduyoye implored motorists to help the LASTMA officials to abate traffic congestion in Lagos by simply obeying traffic laws.
Nice piece
It is not by improving the water transport or getting more BRT buses. It is only increasing the traffic congestion in Lagos. The government has to look into the issue urgently. I am an office worker and I know the challenges I experience even as a car owner.