How to Improve Lagos -- Study by IBM

A team of IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) experts completing a month-long pro bono consulting assignment presented recommendations to Nigeria's Lagos State Government to ensure that private traffic and public transportation flows more efficiently in the city of Lagos -- Africa's most populous.
Working with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, the agency responsible for developing and implementing the state's transportation blueprint, and the Lagos State Ministries of Transportation, Works & Infrastructure, Science & Technology, the IBM team of experts proposed technology-driven strategies to make travel easier.
Located in West Africa's rain forest belt, 20% of Lagos' 3,600sq.km geographical area is mostly waterways; however, 90% of commuter travel in the state is road based. City authorities predict a 350% growth in the number of vehicles in the state over the next 25 years, with the population doubling to 40 million by 2030. The potential of both rail and water transport remains largely untapped as they carry less than one percent of overall traffic in the state.
The recommendations included better coordination between agencies responsible for traffic management, police, fire and medical care. Informing the decisions of these departments would be data gathered and analyzed from a variety of sources such as cell phones, call centers, cameras, and global positioning systems devices. More accurate and up-to-date information can help transport management agencies better manage the city's traffic flow. It will also enable them to wirelessly provide travelers with information such as road and traffic conditions, as well as bus, boat and toll schedules, to help them plan their trips more effectively.
Also on the list of suggestions was a single, integrated e-ticketing system for all modes of transportation and integrated fare management. The introduction of roadway toll rates based on traffic density would also be helpful for encouraging the use public transportation, cleaner air and enhanced revenue. The state was also advised to create a single platform for all its traffic and transportation-related data so each agency and mode of transport is integrated, helping passengers interconnect seamlessly.
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