You’re not alone if you’ve ever thought that Lagos traffic is ruining your romantic life. According to recent reports, Nigerians, particularly those from Lagos, spend more time stuck in traffic than they do on dates.
The Financial Derivatives Company estimates that the typical Lagos resident spends 1,080 hours in traffic annually. Approximately 45 days a year are lost to traffic, and by the time a Lagosian reaches the age of 55, they will have spent nearly seven years of their lives stuck in traffic.
This is a harsh reality for a lot of young people who are juggling work, social life, and romance. Lagos commutes about 70 minutes each way on average, so by the time you’ve made it through the impatient horns, the traffic jam at Third Mainland Bridge, and Google Maps taking you on a crazy detour, you’re exhausted and not in the mood for a date night.
The situation is made even more startling by reports of severe gridlock. Some commuters claimed to have spent more than 14 hours stuck in traffic during recent road closures—longer than the average length of a city romantic relationship! After five hours, a frustrated driver on the Third Mainland Bridge tweeted, “I’m going crazy.” Lagos.
When it comes to dating time, even the busiest Lagos lovers may manage a couple of hours on the weekends, which adds up to about 300–500 hours annually. Still, traffic prevails.
Therefore, Lagos traffic may be the cause of your romance’s constant “hold-up” rather than your partner. Many love stories in Lagos might only start and end on the bridge until the city finds long-term solutions.
