Lagos and Traffic!

After 10 years as a permanent resident of this city called Lagos, I still remain in awe of the volume of people and vehicles. Lagos, where the roads are a puzzle, and the cars always in a chaotic bata dance of bodies, brake lights, and blaring horns. Navigating the streets of this vibrant Nigerian metropolis is not just a commute; it’s an adventure, a daily dose of adrenaline that even the most seasoned daredevils might find challenging. It’s in how a road can go from “free flow of traffic” to “traffic is at a standstill”, how Lagos has a whole radio station to monitor traffic, it’s how you can have close friends and family and never be able to visit them, it’s how you have to factor traffic into every day decisions and plans.

The truth is, Lagos is an old city. The founders never planned for the current and growing population of Lagos. The influx of people from various parts of the country in search of economic opportunities has put immense pressure on the city’s infrastructure, including its road networks. Rapid urbanization in the last decade, of Lagos and its environs, has outpaced the development of necessary infrastructure, leading to chronic traffic congestion. Simply put, the roads are too small for the population passing through them. The hours lost in traffic jams have a direct impact on the productivity and economic activities of the residents and even the whole country. Air pollution due to prolonged periods of idling in traffic not only affects the health of residents but also adds stress to the lives of daily commuters. The security challenges brought on by residents sitting idly in a confined and restricted space cannot be overemphasized, as Lagos has increasingly become a den of pickpockets and thieves. Constant terrorism of commuters has been the order of the day, with snatchings, vandalizing, wounding, and even killing Lagosians for their phones, wallets, laptops, and other valuables on the rise. Unfortunately, the government has not been able to do much, as rescue attempts and law enforcement officers are also held up in traffic!

Prioritizing infrastructure development, including the construction of new roads, bridges, and better mass transportation systems, is crucial to addressing the traffic challenges in Lagos. The dramas of traffic are another thing; it is not just a hindrance; it’s a unifying force, and the experiences differ if you commute commercially or in your personal vehicle. Everyone is united in the fight to get home; two-laned roads are filled with four horizontally arranged cars, with drivers honking incessantly. For a stranger, you might think it is just a means of expressing frustration. No! It’s a language, a code of sorts, with the short “beep-beep,” the prolonged “HOOOOONK,” and the rhythmic honking all meaning the same and different things, depending on the situation.

Amidst this chaos, there’s a unique beauty to Lagos traffic. It’s a testament to the city’s resilience and the unyielding spirit of its people. The traffic isn’t just a hindrance; it’s a shared experience that binds Lagosians together, creating stories and anecdotes that are as diverse as the city itself. Yet, as much as I complain, I always miss the hustle and bustle any time I travel out of town. It’s like an addiction, a drug, a feeling that you never want to let go of. There’s nowhere like Lagos.