Lagos State may be losing as much as N4 trillion annually to traffic congestion that has become a permanent feature of the state.
A report by a Lagos-based research institute, Danne Institute for Research entitled “Connectivity and Productivity Report” disclosed this on Tuesday.
The loss, according to the Institute, was an estimate of 14.12 million hours lost by Lagosians while commuting to and from work daily.
Founder/Executive Director, Danne Institute, Professor Franca Ovadje, presented the findings of the research at the virtual Transport and Traffic Conference organised by the institute.
Ovadje explained that long distances between where Lagosians live and work, among other factors, are a major cause of the traffic jams. She also lamented that the growth of Lagos megacity is not leading to a corresponding productivity increases due to the state’s connectivity issues.
Ovadje declared: “We found that the cost to individuals of traffic congestion is N133,978.68 per annum for those who own their vehicles and N79,039.40 each year for those who use public transport. “The total loss to Lagos is estimated at 14.12 million hours per day or N3.834 trillion per annum.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, said Lagos was adopting a multi-pronged approach as the government was convinced that the state could not spend its way out of congestion.
He explained that the strategy of the government was to modernise and maximise existing transport networks and implement the Lagos Transport Master Plan that proposes investment in a multimodal transport system like waterways and seven rail lines, and the development of the millionaire cities so that residents won’t have to go to the island to get well-paying jobs or do business.
On her part, the president of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, explained that Lagos was struggling to play a catch-up game because growth has outpaced planning by decades.
She suggested that the Lagos government agree on an operational framework with the Federal Government such that some federal assets, including roads and ports, could be controlled and managed by the state to reduce congestion.
Mr. Wale Adediran, President, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, alerted the public to the physical, mental and emotional effects of traffic congestion on the state working population.
He emphasised that law and order is at the heart of solutions to Lagos traffic problems. Mr. Joseph Agunbiade, Cofounder of BudgIT was of the opinion that the government should prioritise data, innovation and disruption along with attracting massive private investment to close the transport infrastructure deficit.
