I wrote this piece in September nearly a year ago, and decided not to publish it because I thought the problem was already being addressed. The Lekki Development Authority (or whatever the ‘job for the boys construction company’ building the Ozumba Mbadiwe Road is called) filled up all the potholes and traffic began to flow again or so I assumed. Then the roads were dug up again, and that was nearly a year ago!

It has become an acceptable fact that it takes 3 hours at the minimum to cross Falomo Bridge from Ikoyi into Victoria Island. Access is no easier through Bonny Camp, that takes two to five hours at the pleasure of the gods of traffic. For the Lagosians who travel to work or live in those parts the result is a shorter life span. It is true, those who keep medical records say that high blood pressure and related diseases is on the increase, people have become more lethargic and psychiatrists are seeing more patients than they used to (this in itself may not be a bad thing but……….). In addition, money is wasted because otherwise productive hours are spent in traffic while burning expensive petrol freely in anticipation that you will soon move, and family members gradually become strangers because you only see them only in the night when they are asleep or on Saturdays while you sleep off the fatigue from a workweek, mostly spent in traffic.  Sunday of course belongs to religion – there are sermons to hear, Sunday school to teach, holy work to be done or Nasfat to attend if you are Muslim. Whatever your holy activity don’t wait too late before you head for home because you will only be caught in traffic.

Of course, Lagos traffic has implications for security, especially for those of us who can’t take up windows because of the sweltering heat. And even if you can, you may not have shatter proof glass to prevent the area boy or his senior brother, the armed robber from bursting through to take your belongings, stabbing you to death in the process. This however is not meant to be dark humour.  It is meant to be a well thought out solution to the problem of one road. Or not, since the thinking was done while I sat in traffic trying to distract myself from the hawkers blocking my sun and making me breathe in the musk that oozed freely from their unwashed bodies. The solution may not be so useful now, since the Ikorodu Road model upon which it is based has also been torn asunder. However, it is an idea and it should not cost much to test it.

Eliminate all left turns on Ozumba Mbadiwe

Lagos residents that visit Victoria Island are no longer strangers to the perennial traffic build up that starts from Osbourne Road in Ikoyi on most days and extends all the way to the traffic lights approaching the Law School on Ozumba Mbadiwe. A trip from Lekki to Ikoyi is no better and in this instance also, traffic starts to build up from the same set of traffic lights until way beyond the first Lekki roundabout. Given, some of the poor traffic situation might be ascribed to bad roads and indiscriminate stops by buses that ply the route, better management would however bring about improved traffic flow.

Traffic managers have explained that on a busy route, one car merely slowing down can result in traffic build up for 5 kilometres. This is the primary reason for the no waiting no stopping rules found in force in most cities with heavy traffic volumes, in addition to strict application of one-way rules.

It can be seen that the traffic build up the Ikoyi – Victoria Island and Lekki – Ikoyi route is caused by the intersection of Ozumba Mbadiwe and Adeyemo Alakija roads. It has been aggravated by the traffic lights because they do not keep traffic flowing in either direction for long enough to prevent a build up. To address this problem, I would like to suggest that all left-turns and U-turns on Ozumba Mbadiwe from Mobil to Bonny Camp should be eliminated.

Ozumba Mbadiwe, a narrower road than Ikorodu Road, probably handles bigger traffic volumes now that residential and business activities have been extended to Lekki. Similar traffic rules as on Ikorodu Road should therefore apply. Traffic can be prevented from snarling up at the Bonny Camp round about by enforcing the no stopping, no parking rule that is meant to be in place already but is largely ignored. There should be no crossing allowed at the roundabout, all traffic from Ahamdu Bello Road that does not go over the bridge must trun right in Ozumba Mbadiwe Street. As an alternative, a proper and purpose built, well banked U-turn, could be introduced at the junction of Walter Carrington Close or perhaps even before, at the point where the offset from the road is widest and there are fewer businesses opening on to the road. This will have to be after the Lagoon Restaurant.

This proposal could be tested for a week to determine its workability and if it does not help then we could revert to status quo.

It is important that a system of one-way rules that keeps traffic flowing in one direction only should be fashioned out for different sections that make up Victoria Island. For instance a left turn on to Akin Adesola from Aliyu Fafunwa should also be reviewed. Drivers should be encouraged instead to access the Adeola Odeku section through Bishop Oluwole, driving in through Karimu Kotun Crescent.

This would involve an inversion of some of the one-way rules currently in force but it would facilitate freer traffic flow. It is also indicative of a need to ensure off street parking and to make all the roads drivable.

Repairs and maintenance of roads at low cost could be facilitated by the use of labour gangs of the non-obstructive kind. This will also serve as a source of sustainable jobs for young people, particularly if labour intensive methods are adopted.

Road works are in progress all over Lagos, including on Ikorodu Road but they are obstructive and slow! Several major roads that are alternative routes have been abandoned to traders who pay criminal gangs for protection and wilful destruction of rehabilitated roads to facilitate ‘go-slow’. Illegal motor park operators block off important junctions in the name of loading passengers while Government looks on.

Government can afford to look on and do nothing because every 2-bit legislator and his brother Wakilu has a siren to clear the road when he needs to go out. So it is really not their problem but ours. We are the ones being robbed, maimed and killed. We breathe in the fumes from inefficiently burnt fuel and develop strange cancers, recreational time is non-existent because we ran out time to socialise away from the work place and of course, our brains are deadened by the sheer drudgery of time spent in traffic taking the opportunity to rail at each other as our own  contorted form of relaxation.

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 13.08.2007 19:10

Ani  Villager

# 2 If we eliminate all left turns on ozumba mbadiwe; we would have to get to the bonny camp/lekki phase one roundabouts to make the turn. The bonny camp roundabout is too small and would not cope with that demand. The Lekki Concession company should hasten up the work on ozumba mbadiwe road, the pace of work is just too slow and they have currently aggravated the bad situation of that road. This project might just go the way of the bar-beach project which after about 4 billion naira was sunk to stop the water from encroaching on the road, the bar beach still overflowed on it's banks on monday. Posted by Ani| 14.08.2007 09:29

Mikky jaga  Villager

# 3 Our traffic lights are part, instead of being the solution to our traffic problems. They stop traffic unnecessarily when common sense dictates otherwise. Those who mount those traffic lights did not do enough survey of the history of the points where those lights are planted, thereby reducing their efficiency. A constant review of the effectiveness of the lights will greatly enhance their usefulness. Posted by Mikky jaga| 14.08.2007 11:24

Wale Adeniyi  Villager

# 4 Traffic problems are not peculiar to Lagos in the league of world's major cities. However, the inability of our traffic management team to fashion out a workable plan to decongest some routes is clearly being exhibited. It is outrageous to note that while plans for the expansion of the city towards Epe were being planned not a single thought was spared to expand the routes that are suppose to serve the area given the sheer number of people that were bound to relocate to this new areas. Even, when there was this idea by a foreign group to develop a light railway that will link Lagos Island with Ajah, VGC etc. along the coast of the Lagoon, the idea was 'killed' by politicians who will not support it because of 'brown envelopes'. Posted by Wale Adeniyi| 14.08.2007 14:08

Fela from grave  JJC

# 5 Only George Bush can solve Lagos traffic problem. Unfortunately, he only has less than 18 months to go in office ... Posted by Fela from grave| 15.08.2007 15:44

Bode_Boluz  Villager

# 6 Every major metropolis has a Mass transit Service. Is it not about time that a start be made on some type of rail service? In the "New" Areas of Lagos like Lekki, even a limited rail service would rake in the big bucks. If you look at things too closely you miss the big picture. I know many of you are living on the ground and think "what does he know living in obodo London". Well I see what works and what doesn't with valid data that is used by other well concerned cities from all over the world in their city planning and development. I am in a position to give an objective unbiased overview. Many come up with the argument "It is too late to do that now". It is never too late. The Jubilee Line Underground project is just one of the recently constructed transport projects in London. There is also the fact that if the right steps had been taken to begin with in the 70's to even extend the Iddo Link across the to the Island instead of that ridiculous odd and even number crap, there would have been a better attitude to rail travel development. The Personal Car is not the answer. Many of the reasons you have pointed out yourself, but the worse of the lot is wasted man hours. Think of the time saved if folks could commute quickly or even in some sort of order. Oh think of the next generation. Or are they going to have to do it? Posted by Bode_Boluz| 25.02.2008 21:35

Shoko Loko Bangoshe  Villager

# 7 I'm not convinced that rail is the answer. Let's say there are two alternatives: 1. Build a dedicated road solely for high-capacity vehicles; 2. Build a rail line; why should I go for option 2, when option 1 will do just as well, and is more flexible (you can quickly increase capacity by buying lots of buses, but it is much more difficult to add rolling stock to a railway line)? Posted by Shoko Loko Bangoshe| 25.02.2008 21:41

Bode_Boluz  Villager

# 8 Good Ideas Both there SLB. However, as I advocate for the consideration of rail transport, I hope you don't mind if I elaborate a little further. To have a successful rail service there needs to be the right level of collective investment in infrastructure, technology, people and confidence in its future. Infrastructure: there is so much virgin land to earmark and expand on. Industrial engineering Technology firms gravitate to where these projects exist. The Physical raw materials and resources need are all in the boundaries of Nigeria. Rolling stock. In most case this is a 10-20 year investment on the part of the operator. It is also a centrally controlled Asset. Accountability is much easier than with the chaos of buses. Technology: the Expertise is freely available in every country it has been successful. All it needs is a similar Govt/Private partnership like that with Virgin Atlantic to make it work. Private ownership means that there will be a concerted effort to hire the right people. A highly trained and motivated cadre of professionals will be visible in this industry thus attracting investment and opportunities elsewhere in the country and even the continent. These same professionals are also needed for the development of other avenues of Industrial engineering. The presence of these kind of industries are what help fuel the successful development and management of such projects. Also these are the kinds of projects that real investment banks take the time to support and factor into their long term financial portfolios. That is all I can think of now... An interesting topic here Mutti! Good Call. Posted by Bode_Boluz| 25.02.2008 22:06

Sincere Brillow  Villager

# 9 I think our first port of call should be: What causes Traffic Jam in Lagos? I have studied and observed it and my submission is as follows. 1.Indiscrimate parking on the road by commercial bus drivers. 2. Pot holes and bad roads. 3. Lack of access and feeder roads 4. Incessant breaking down of vehicles on the highways. 5. Impatience amongst road users. 6. Too much vehicular movement in lagos. There may be other reasons but these are the most critical i think. The traffic on Lagos-Abeokuta Express road can be reduced only if Danfos and Molues are barred from stopping at the Dopemu Junction immediately after Under Bridge. The Traffic on Third Mainland bridge is now easing off as a result of the Newly Constructed Bus stop at Iyana Oworo. What off the traffic along Lagos Ikorodu Expressway? The government need to do something about the Traders who sell on the ketu end of the main road as well as discourage buses from parking indiscriminately at the Ojota bus station on THE same Lagos Ikorodu Express Rd. On Victoria Island,Ikeja-Agidingbi,Isolo,Oshodi,Surulere,Yaba,Ojuelegba the story is the same. The BRT whemn completed will hopefully mark the end of tenure of the Molues and Danfoes in Lagos because they are the Menace about Lagos Traffic. Light rail will be a welcome development especially on Lagos Ibadan Expessway as such that a whole lot of people who work in Lagos or have businesses in Lagos can live in Ibafo,Ofada,Mowe etc.This will ease out Vehicular Volume within Lagos. The Government (State and respective local government) should now exact the political will to be up and doing in constructing and rehabilitating bad portions of road all around Lagos. Am i making any sense? Posted by Sincere Brillow| 27.02.2008 10:19

Shoko Loko Bangoshe  Villager

# 10 Hello SB, I just wanted to thank you for these pictures - I had heard about the BRT scheme, but I wasn't quite sure what it would look like. It would be nice to see other pictures from other villagers which showed developments in Nigeria as wel... :wink: Posted by Shoko Loko Bangoshe| 27.02.2008 10:55

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