Traffic in Lagos

Lagos, Nigeria, faces significant traffic challenges with a high reliance on cars and buses for daily commutes.

Despite the congestion, efforts are being made to improve transportation efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 2.85 minutes waiting, 30.68 minutes driving, and covers a distance of 29.29 km.

  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 61 minutes on the bus, with a total commute time of 70.5 minutes including waiting and walking.
  • Car - Car users experience a driving time of 68.17 minutes, covering approximately 35.02 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes take around 44 minutes, with additional time spent on other modes like trams and buses.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
41%
Bus
32%
Home
11%
Walking
9%
Motorcycle
5%
Tram
2%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 45 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
18.2 miles
Walking
7.8 mins
Waiting
2.9 mins
Driving Car
30.7 mins
Bus / Trolley
23.8 mins
Train
0.3 mins
Tram
1.6 mins
Other
2.3 mins
Total:
70.0 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
16.2 miles
Walking
6.2 mins
Waiting
3.3 mins
Bus / Trolley
61.0 mins
Total:
70.5 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
21.8 miles
Walking
0.6 mins
Driving Car
68.2 mins
Total:
68.7 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
6.5 miles
Walking
44.0 mins
Waiting
13.8 mins
Bus / Trolley
19.8 mins
Train
0.5 mins
Tram
0.8 mins
Other
7.5 mins
Total:
86.3 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to worsen during the rainy season due to poor road conditions.

Holiday periods see a slight reduction in traffic as many residents travel out of the city.

Commuter Pain Points

Frequent traffic jams lead to unpredictable travel times and increased stress for commuters.

Limited public transportation options force many to rely on personal vehicles, exacerbating congestion.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 8 PM are the best times to avoid heavy traffic.

Midday travel can also be less congested, particularly outside of peak hours.

Event Impacts

Major events at venues like the National Stadium can cause significant traffic disruptions.

Public holidays and festivals often lead to increased traffic in and around popular areas.

Sustainability Efforts

Lagos is investing in expanding its bus rapid transit system to provide more efficient public transport options.

Initiatives to promote electric vehicles and reduce reliance on fossil fuels are underway.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have become popular, offering flexible commuting options and reducing the need for personal car ownership.

These services help decrease the number of vehicles on the road, potentially easing congestion.

Worldwide
Nigeria

Traffic Rankings

Lagos ranks 1st on the Traffic rankings in Nigeria.
The Traffic Index for Nigeria combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in Nigeria, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025