Traffic Index 2025: Nigeria ranked world’s most congested country

Nigeria has been ranked as the most congested country in the world in the newly released 2025 Traffic Index, with Lagos topping the list as the world’s most traffic-choked city. The report, which measures congestion levels across countries and cities globally, highlights the severity of gridlock in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos, where millions of residents endure some of the longest commute times worldwide. According to the index, average journey times in Lagos now surpass those of traditionally congested cities such as Los Angeles, Delhi, and Manila, underscoring the scale of the crisis. Experts attribute Nigeria’s congestion to rapid urban population growth, inadequate investment in public transport, sprawling city layouts, dependence on private vehicles, and ongoing road construction projects that disrupt traffic flow. The impact on daily life is profound. Commuters spend several hours in traffic daily, increasing fuel consumption, transportation costs, and stress levels, while reducing productivity. Businesses, emergency services, and logistics operators are also severely affected, with delays leading to economic losses and heightened public frustration. Health concerns are rising too, as extended exposure to fumes worsens air quality, while delayed emergency responses threaten lives. Government officials have acknowledged the problem, pointing to ongoing roadworks, traffic management efforts, and long-term infrastructure projects such as rail and bus rapid transit systems. However, transport analysts warn that without urgent, large-scale investment in reliable mass transit and integrated urban planning, congestion will remain entrenched. Commuters interviewed in recent reports described exhaustion and frustration, with many resorting to drastic lifestyle changes, including relocating closer to workplaces, paying for private shuttle services, or adjusting work hours to avoid peak gridlock. Calls are mounting for authorities to implement short-term traffic management solutions alongside accelerated delivery of long-term transit projects. The 2025 Traffic Index has reinforced what many Nigerians already know from daily experience: the nation’s cities, particularly Lagos, face an urgent and worsening mobility crisis. Experts say tackling the issue will require not only massive infrastructure investments but also new policies to reduce private car use, improve urban planning, and expand affordable, high-capacity public transport.