Nigeria
Lagos
UMR Index Rank
#70
(=)
Score: 22%
Sustainable Mobility
#70
(=)
Score: 24.9%
Public Transit
#59
(=)
Score: 34.3%
Technology Adoption
#67
Score: 10.4%
| Population | 16.5 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 1,966 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 8,411 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,024 |
UMR Index Rank
#70
(=)
Score: 22%
Sustainable Mobility
#70
(=)
Score: 24.9%
Public Transit
#59
(=)
Score: 34.3%
Technology Adoption
#67
Score: 10.4%
What Lagos Does Well In Urban Mobility
Lagos continues to invest in its network of well-connected roads. Along with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, the city has invested in renovating the 128-kilometer (80-mile) expressway connecting Lagos with the city of Ibadan, one of the busiest highways in the country. The project was reportedly 94% complete as of the third quarter of 2023.
In 2024 the Lagos State government committed around a quarter of its budget to infrastructure investments, including projects such as the Fourth Mainland Bridge to connect Ikorodu, a city just east of Lagos, to Lagos Island, the central business district. Lagos opened its first light-rail line in September 2023, with 2 million passenger journeys during its first year of operation. In October 2024 it opened the first phase of its second line. Once complete, the second line will be 37 kilometers (23 miles) long. The city also has plans for four more lines.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Lagos' Transportation System
Lagos has poor road quality. Rapid population growth presents additional challenges for the city’s road planners. Additionally, car ownership is rising, especially as the middle class expands, with Lagos’ car owners frequently citing comfort, speed, and convenience as reasons for purchasing private cars. Poor-quality roads and rising car ownership negatively affect traffic fluidity and road safety. Lagos is among the index’s worst performers on road safety. In 2024 the Lagos State government established a dedicated unit within the Ministry of Transportation tasked with reducing road fatalities and accidents.
Lagos’ public transit has low station density and high fares relative to local incomes. While planned expansions of the metro will improve density, the metro remains limited to a small area of the city. Lagos plans to launch 2,000 high-capacity buses starting in 2025. It is also planning to improve the quality of bus services through a rolled-out restructuring plan. The plan aims to standardize operations, including reallocating some routes to improve bus coverage of urban areas.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Lagos Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
With relatively high fares compared with household income, Lagos' public transit system is one of the priciest in the region. To help close the gap with other African cities, Lagos can provide more subsidies for transit fares. This can be accomplished by lowering fares for all travelers, lowering fares on an income basis, or selling long-term passes at discounted fares for regular transit users. Increasing the transit offering to reduce reliance on informal transit can help, as informal transit is provided by private companies that often charge high prices. The Lagos State government reportedly cut bus fares by 50% in August 2023, but more can be done.
Lagos can invest more in mitigation and resilience measures to prepare for climate-induced disasters and rising sea levels. This includes mobility infrastructure designed to better withstand natural disasters, such as flexible and durable road materials, stormwater management systems, and smart traffic systems that can help traffic flow in emergencies. The city can also better integrate disaster risk assessments into urban planning processes and conduct regular disaster response drills and simulations.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley