Ugo Aliogo
Lagos loses N4 trillion to traffic congestion annually, a study by Danne Institute for Research disclosed in its connectivity and productivity report.
The Lagos-based research stated that the challenge was the economic cost estimated at 14.12 million hours lost by Lagosians while commuting to work every day.
The institute revealed this at the virtual Transport and Traffic Conference organised by Danne Institute in partnership with BusinessDay Newspaper recently.
While presenting the findings of their research at the public-private sector dialogue, the Founder of the institute, Prof. Franca Ovadje, explained that the long distance between where Lagos residents live and work, among other factors, were major cause of unending traffic jams.
Ovadje said: “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 N3.8 trillion, per annum.”
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Frederick Oladeinde, said that Lagos was adopting a multi-pronged approach as the government is convinced that the state cannot spend its way out of congestion.
The President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, urged the state to agree on an operational framework with the federal government such that some federal assets, like roads and ports that can be controlled and managed by the state to reduce congestion.
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The report titled “Connectivity and Productivity Report” explained that the amount is derived from the culmination of estimated 14.12 million hours lost by Lagosians while commuting to work every day.
Presenting the findings of the research at a public-private sector dialogue on February 4, Franca Ovadje, founder and executive director of the institute, lamented that it is unfortunate that the growth of Lagos megacity is not leading to productivity increases due to the state’s connectivity issues.
“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 N3,834,340,158,870 per annum, ” she said.
Sanwo-Olu, private sector to discuss Lagos traffic congestion Sanwo-Olu, private sector to discuss Lagos traffic congestion
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The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will, on Thursday, discuss and profer solutions to traffic congestion in the state.
At the maiden edition of Transport and Traffic Conference, to be held virtually, Governor Sanwo-Olu would participate in a public-private sector dialogue on the causes of Lagos perennial traffic congestion, its costs to individuals, businesses and government and sustainable solutions.
The conference is hosted by Danne Institute for Research, a Lagos-based research institute in partnership with BusinessDay Newspaper.
This year’s conference titled “Connectivity and Productivity in Lagos Megacity,” according to the Institute is aimed at catalysing discussions around the opportunities and risks facing Lagos if the megacity’s connectivity challenges are not addressed and the imperative of using research-based sol