This is particularly instructive since it is believed that the poor state of our roads is partly responsible for the daily chaos being experienced on most roads in the state. In an attempt to tackle the traffic problem, the state government, in the last sixteen years, has rehabilitated and reconstructed major roads such as LASU-Iba road, Lawanson-Itire road, Oregun road, Okota-Itire road, Nurudeen Olowopopo road, among others. Popularly referred to in local parlance as ‘go slow’, traffic gridlock has become one of the sour identities of Lagos which successive governments in the state have been trying to do away with. Like it is with most cosmopolitan cities across the world, it is, perhaps, not strange that Lagos experiences continuous queues of vehicles which block an entire network of intersecting streets, bringing traffic in all directions to a complete standstill. Unarguably, Lagos today occupies an important place in the socio-economic equation of Nigeria and indeed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It accounts for more than 40 per cent of all labour emoluments paid in the country. The sState alone harbours about 60 per cent of the Federation’s total industrial investments and foreign trade while also attracting 65 per cent of Nigeria’s commercial activities. Lagos State is, indeed, blessed by its position as Nigeria’s financial, commercial and industrial nerve centre with over 2,000 manufacturing industries and over 200 financial institutions. With three lighter terminals and two ports, Lagos generates 50% of Nigeria’s port revenue and the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, is the major hub for aviation within West Africa, and between the region and Europe. Lagos is the leading non oil sector contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic product (GDP).
It is the sixth largest city in the world and is projected to become the third biggest urban conurbation by 2015.
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