Lagos State Government hails self on traffic control

The Lagos State Government says its approach to traffic management in the last two years has been yielding results.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the strategy of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration on traffic was why the state was not included among the world’s worst cities with historic record of traffic congestion.
A report by World Traffic Index 2017, which measures traffic congestion in 390 cities across 48 countries globally, did not list Lagos among cities with worst cases of traffic congestion in 2016.
The report, issued by TomTom, a global leader in traffic management, navigation and mapping products, also showed that Africa recorded a 15 per cent increase in traffic congestion between 2015 and 2016, while North America recorded five per cent. According to the report, Europe recorded nine per cent, Asia & Oceania and South America recorded 12 and seven per cent, respectively.
The report stated that while Africa at large recorded a 15 per cent rise in traffic congestion, there was a 10 per cent rise in global traffic congestion.
Speaking on the report, Ayorinde recollected that when Ambode assumed office in 2015, his administration was confronted with traffic congestion.
“The situation compelled the governor to convene a summit in 2015.
“After the summit, Ambode introduced lay-bys and slip roads to some areas, removed roundabouts along Lekki-Epe Expressway, and replaced them with traffic lights,” he said.
He added that the governor approved other measures, while also increasing the staff strength of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.