Lagos Authority Launches 21st‑Century Rail Plan to Ease Traffic

Lagos State, Nigeria's most populated state with over 22 million residents, faces chronic traffic congestion as an estimated 1.8‑2.5 million vehicles use its roads daily, accounting for 65‑70 % of Nigeria's total vehicular traffic. Households spend about 40 % of their budget on transportation, underscoring the need for a more efficient system.

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), created in 2002 under Governor Bola Tinubu, has developed an integrated transportation master plan that incorporates road, rail and water modes. The new 21st‑century rail proposal aims to provide a sustainable, multimodal network to reduce travel times, lower transport costs for residents and improve overall productivity in the metropolitan area.