Road usage in Nigeria has become increasingly chaotic, unsafe, and inefficient, reflecting a broader national challenge in public order, law enforcement, and infrastructure planning. The persistent issues of congestion, reckless driving, inadequate signage, and disregard for traffic regulations have continued to undermine national productivity, endanger lives, and compromise public decency.
Against this backdrop, there is a compelling need to sanitise road usage through a deliberate, structured, and sustained traffic management approach. Nigerian roads, particularly in major urban centres like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, are characterised by an alarming level of disorder. Commercial drivers flout road rules with impunity, motorcycles (popularly known as okadas) ply expressways illegally, and tricycles (kekes) frequently obstruct traffic.
Pedestrians jaywalk at will, and even government convoys occasionally breach regulations meant for public safety.
The situation is further worsened by bad roads, insufficient lighting, lack of pedestrian infrastructure, and a poor public transport system. This level of dysfunction not only hampers movement of goods and people but also significantly contributes to road traffic crashes, which claim thousands of lives annually.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Nigeria ranks among the highest globally in road traffic fatalities, with over 39,000 deaths recorded each year. This is unacceptable by any standard and calls for immediate intervention. It is obvious that the state of most of the roads are not only unenviable but not roadworthy.
This is worrisome to mind when, as I observe the vehicle inspection officers arrest vehicles for not being road-worthy. The question I often ask is if it is possible to have road-worthy vehicles on roads that are not vehicle-worthy. This is absolutely a contradiction.
However, in as much as this is a great contributor to the calamity we are experiencing on our roads, it is already a way of life amongst the people such as to be regarded as normalcy. Thus, I am not going to dissipate energy striving to make any point on this but promptly address my mission which is the challenge of traffic management in the country.
Traffic management is the cornerstone of any meaningful road usage reform. It encompasses the planning, coordination, regulation, and enforcement of laws governing road behaviour to ensure safety, efficiency, and civility. In Nigeria, agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), State Traffic Management Authorities (e.g., Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in Lagos), and the Nigeria Police are primarily responsible for traffic regulation.
However, their efforts are often undermined by limited resources, poor coordination, corruption, indiscipline and public resistance. By way of preface, let me state that the initial confusion associated with the operations of these organizations arises from the regulatory framework.
Today, there is still confusion as to who does what and where. I recall during my days as the Commissioner in charge of public transportation in Lagos State, there were so many clashes amongst the various agencies, formal and informal, as well as recognized and unrecognized outfits.
While, by my understanding of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Corps is meant to regulate traffic on federal trunk roads (interstate) roads, the states are meant to take charge of state roads. For reasons known to the former, certainly not unconnected with corruption, its men have chosen to concentrate on the internal roads within the states.
This was a source of major conflict then, and still remains so in most cities of the country. This is equally associated with the poor coordination noticeable amongst them on our roads.
Beyond the formal ones were the aberrations created by the local government councils and some agencies like Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), during my tenure. This failure to delineate the jurisdiction of the various traffic agencies is on its own a challenge, and remains a harbinger of confusion.
Apart from the foregoing, indiscipline amongst officials is another contributory factor. Above dereliction of duty by some of them are substantial cases of corrupt practices such as ambushing motorists and tricking them into committing offences so that they could be framed up with charges and ultimately, extortion. I must equally not fail to register the fact that some of the officials are incompetent by way of knowledge of traffic management in the first instance.
As opined above also, limited available resources equally hampers their operations. Most of the traffic enforcers or corps require motorbikes to navigate and maneuver the traffic congestion in the cities in order to unlock traffic grid, but this is often lacking. They lack most of the basic tools desirable for effective road traffic management. A good example is the absence of road signage as well as road traffic signals. Even common lane markings are lacking on most of the roads. These are basic prerequisites to effective traffic management.
Let me also remark that the cost of poor traffic management to the economy is in billions. To therefore sanitise road usage and reduce the harsh exposures, both financially and humanitarian wise, traffic management must be elevated from routine enforcement to a strategic component of national development. In doing this, traffic management authorities must be empowered with adequate training, equipment, and autonomy to function effectively. Officers should be well-versed in modern traffic control techniques, data collection, and the use of technology for enforcement.
Foreign trainings by way of capacity development and morale booster may not be out of place.
I recall that this was part of the package during my days as the transport commissioner in Lagos State. More importantly, these institutions must operate transparently and be free from the influence of corrupt practices that erode public trust. This also demands the provision of protective tools as well as insurance for the field officers. Existing traffic laws must be reviewed and updated to reflect current realities, including the integration of emerging transport technologies and modes. Uniformity across states should also be pursued to avoid conflicting regulations.
Clear punitive measures for traffic violations must be instituted and enforced consistently, regardless of the offender’s status or affiliation. The rule of law must be upheld at all times as it is no respecter of persons nor status. Modern traffic management thrives on intelligent application of technology. Nigeria must embrace electronic traffic monitoring systems, surveillance cameras, speed detection devices, and automated ticketing systems. Real-time traffic updates via digital platforms can help motorists plan their journeys better, thereby reducing congestion.
The good news is that some few States like Lagos are already demonstrating this capacity.
There is not only need for sustainability but also the crucial need for extension of coverage. It is also important to underscore the point that no traffic management effort can succeed without the active participation of the public. Road users must be sensitised on their rights, responsibilities, and the consequences of violations. Standard driving schools and institutes must be established to properly train potential drivers. In fact, there is urgent need to bifurcate the training and test configuration. As universally done, there must be both theoretical and practical evaluations, in which , the former must include hazards detection or anticipation tests. The driving schools should be made to comply strictly with regulatory standards, and continuous public campaigns using both traditional and social media should be prioritised.
For the purpose of familiarity with the road signages, since majority of the drivers on the Nigerian roads missed the opportunity of learning them, public enlightenment programs must be mounted. Again, I recall, in this instance, my television series called ‘road melecine’ aired across multiple television stations during my tenure. Civic education must start from the grassroots, including incorporation into school curricula. The community development associations and the civil society groups must be enlisted in the crusade.
The design and condition of roads play a significant role in traffic efficiency. Nigerian cities need a comprehensive overhaul of their urban transport plans. Dedicated lanes for BRT buses, motorbikes, and tricycles, as well as expanded walkways and pedestrian bridges, must become standards. Moreover, routine maintenance of roads and traffic signs is essential to avoid accidents caused by environmental factors. Road and traffic improvement projects must not only be instituted but routine.
I know that in my days , the Ministry of Transportation, through the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority, was responsible for this and did ensure same was routinely done. That era might have to be returned. Again, effective traffic management should be informed by data. Authorities must continuously collect, analyse, and use data on traffic patterns, accident hotspots, road conditions, and compliance rates to make informed decisions.
This approach enables better resource allocation, targeted interventions, and measurable results. Traffic management cannot be the responsibility of government alone. Private transport operators, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and international partners, all have roles to play as indicated above. Public-private partnerships can help fund infrastructural improvements and bring innovation into the system, for instance, most of the traffic signals during my tenure were not only powered by the private sector, most installations were actually sponsored by them by way of corporate social responsibility.
The civil society can serve as watchdogs to monitor the conduct of enforcement agencies, while equally instituting high intelligence network to monitor the activities of the traffic officials. The realization of this however will depend on how much receptive the government is in building consensus around the subject. Due to the realization of the urgent and crucial need to actualize this vision, implantation of the thoughts above becomes imperative and non-negotiable. The prevailing chaos is not only a threat to public safety but also a major constraint to national development.
From the traffic management perspective, the path forward must involve a holistic strategy anchored on enforcement, education, infrastructure, and innovation. With strong political will which is often lacking, institutional reform, and civic collaboration, Nigeria can transform its road usage culture from a symbol of disorder to a model of modernity and discipline. Only then can the Nigerian road space truly reflect the aspirations of a progressive and civilised society.
