I just drove through lagos/ ikorodu road now and the whole road was congested.
I started wondering how people cope before the construction of the third mainland bridge.
Has the population of lagos multiplied more than four times since 1990?
Given the fact that the closure of the bridge is partial and we still have this traffic, I wonder if the true population of lagos state is what was given during the last census.
Does kano state have as many cars, bridge and road network as lagos? Just asking, I haven't been there and how did commuters cope before the construction of third mainland bridge.

I remember I used to swim from Obalende to Ebute Metta before the bridge was constructed.

In the seventies, only the Carter(First) and Eko (Second) Bridges linked the Island with the mainland.

Carter bridge was constructed by the colonial government while the military ( I believe Gowon) built the Eko Bridge.

The odd and even number concept was adopted to reduce vehicular movement in the seventies. Odd-number vehicles could ply the major roads on particular days and even-number cars on the other days. Ojuelegba and Yaba were two major bottlenecks in those days. Fela's song Ojuelegba , was about the regular confusion at the place. Whenever we were going to school and climbed the overhead bridge at Jibowu (from where we could clearly see the traffic situation at Yaba), my dad would remark Yaba O wo loni o! - meaning Yaba is messed up today.

In those days, people such as my parents had to have two cars -one even and the other odd numbered. My dad still advises me today to ensure that my cars are evenly spread between odd and even - just in case the number regime returns!


The Third Mainland Bridge was constructed by the Babangida government and was actually named after him (Ibrahim Babangida Boulevard) on completion. That name did not stick particularly because of the June 12 Saga which shortly followed the opening of the bridge. In the first phase of the project, Adeniji to Adekunle was done and open to traffic. When completed, the Adekunle-Oworo section of the bridge was not open to traffic for about six months.

Before the Adekunle-Oworo section was opened, I worked variously at Lagos Island and VI and had to go through Adekunle to join Ikorodu road. That stretch from the Third Mainland Bride through Herbert Macaulay was hell. The traffic used to be very bad. Thank God that in those days, the incidence of robbery in the traffic hadn't started (at least I neither experienced nor heard of it).

That's how we used to "cope" then.

Thanks for the insight bros.

Lagos was also not as populated as you have it today. Pre-third mainland bridge, the population was still in the 1-3 million range. And not a lot of motorists on the roads as we had LSTC, way for efficient than what you have today, back then. Molues gained popularity in the late 80's/early 90's when LSTC developed serious issues due mostly to the change in regimes and lack of effective funding and maintenance.

My papa say him dey tamu molue from yaba to wherver in dey go aghhh molue be like brt dem dayz

The numbers of cars nd vehicles on lagos roads were nt dis much den

Population in lagos isn't as much as now then only Eko bridge and carter. The rate at which population is increasing in lagos just alarming.

johnie: In the seventies, only the Carter(First) and Eko (Second) Bridges linked the Island with the mainland.

Carter bridge was constructed by the colonial government while the military ( I believe Gowon) built the Eko Bridge.

The odd and even number concept was adopted to reduce vehicular movement in the seventies. Odd-number vehicles could ply the major roads on particular days and even-number cars on other days. Ojuelegba and Yaba were two major bottlenecks I remember in those days. Fela's song Ojuelegba , was about the regular confusion at the place. Whenever we we were going to school and climb the overhead bridge at Jibowu (from where we could clearly see the traffic situation at Yaba at a vantage position), my dad would remark Yaba O wo loni o! - meaning Yaba is messed up today.

In those days, people such as my parents had two have two cars -one even and the other odd numbered. My dad still advises me today to ensure that my cars are evenly spread between odd and even - just in case the number regime returns!


The Third Mainland Bridge was constructed by the Babangida government and was actually named after him (Ibrahim Babangida Boulevard) on completion. That name did not stick particularly because of the June 12 Saga which shortly followed the opening of the bridge. In the first phase of the project, Adeniji to Adekunle was done and open to traffic. When completed, the Adekunle-Oworo section of the bridge was not open to traffic for about six months.

Before the Adekunle-Oworo section was opened I was worked variously at Lagos Island and VI and would have to go through Adekunle to join Ikorodu road. That stretch from the Third Mainland Bride through Herbert Macaulay was hell. The traffic used to be very bad. Thank God that in those days, the incidence of robbery in the traffic hadn't started (at least I neither experienced nor heard of it).

That's how we used to "cope" then.

Bros you be reallll old school

poweredcom: My papa say him dey tamu molue from yaba to wherver in dey go aghhh molue be like brt dem dayz

That is not true though.

alaoeri: Population in lagos isn't as much as now then only Eko bridge and carter. The rate at which population is increasing in lagos just alarming.

I think the population of Lagos shot through the roof after the Capital was moved to Abuja, not before.

Kobojunkie:

I think the population of Lagos shot through the roof after the Capital was moved to Abuja, not before.

And this coincided with the increased economic hardship resulting from Babangida's SAP. The irony is that the capital was moved to Abuja to relieve congestion in Lagos

Kobojunkie: Lagos was also not as populated as you have it today. Pre-third mainland bridge, the population was still in the 1-3 million range. And not a lot of motorists on the roads as we had LSTC, way for efficient than what you have today, back then. Molues gained popularity in the late 80's/early 90's when LSTC developed serious issues due mostly to the change in regimes and lack of effective funding and maintenance.

So in 1992, the population was still around 1-3 million and immediately after the bridge was constructed, the population shot up to the circa 12 million that we have today?

Kobojunkie why are you so d/u/m/b? STFU or find something more interesting to do.

Kobojunkie:

I think the population of Lagos shot through the roof after the Capital was moved to Abuja, not before.

Does that make sense to you Kobo?

So the population of Lagos shot through the roof after the economic incentive to move to Lagos was removed? Where did you go to school Kobo? Did your parents home school you or you just refused to learn common-sense from your P/I/M/P/S?

occam:

And this coincided with the increased economic hardship resulting from Babangida's SAP. The irony is that the capital was moved to Abuja to relieve congestion in Lagos

Yes, you are right! Towards the late 80's I started to wonder what in the world had happened as i remember discussing the move with my Dad, before Babangida came in to make it official.

Kobojunkie:

That is not true though.

You are the dumb on here. Your reality isnt the only reality.

In the 1991 census Lagos State had a population of 5m.

I believe now lagos State would be between 15-20m

Also in those days of austerity the number of vehicles would be like 10% of what it is currently

dayokanu: In the 1991 census Lagos State had a population of 5m.

I believe now lagos State would be between 15-20m

Also in those days of austerity the number of vehicles would be like 10% of what it is currently

I still remember that song in the babangida years -- Lagos city transport, is the molueeee . .. ROFLMAO!! Those were the days. You could go to Obalende, apapa, even LSTV Christmas Party without feeling smothered by the crowds. Then late 80's people were everywhere like flies.

Is this same IBB That evey tom dick n harry castigates. In which his was a million times better than this oppoturnist fisher-man u call gej. Without this third-mainland bridge Lagos-Nig. Wouldnt have archieved africa largest labour market in marina. Useless n ugrateful souls.!!! Hissssing...

johnie: In the seventies, only the Carter(First) and Eko (Second) Bridges linked the Island with the mainland.

Carter bridge was constructed by the colonial government while the military ( I believe Gowon) built the Eko Bridge.

The odd and even number concept was adopted to reduce vehicular movement in the seventies. Odd-number vehicles could ply the major roads on particular days and even-number cars on other days. Ojuelegba and Yaba were two major bottlenecks I remember in those days. Fela's song Ojuelegba , was about the regular confusion at the place. Whenever we we were going to school and climb the overhead bridge at Jibowu (from where we could clearly see the traffic situation at Yaba at a vantage position), my dad would remark Yaba O wo loni o! - meaning Yaba is messed up today.

In those days, people such as my parents had two have two cars -one even and the other odd numbered. My dad still advises me today to ensure that my cars are evenly spread between odd and even - just in case the number regime returns!


The Third Mainland Bridge was constructed by the Babangida government and was actually named after him (Ibrahim Babangida Boulevard) on completion. That name did not stick particularly because of the June 12 Saga which shortly followed the opening of the bridge. In the first phase of the project, Adeniji to Adekunle was done and open to traffic. When completed, the Adekunle-Oworo section of the bridge was not open to traffic for about six months.

Before the Adekunle-Oworo section was opened I was worked variously at Lagos Island and VI and would have to go through Adekunle to join Ikorodu road. That stretch from the Third Mainland Bride through Herbert Macaulay was hell. The traffic used to be very bad. Thank God that in those days, the incidence of robbery in the traffic hadn't started (at least I neither experienced nor heard of it).

That's how we used to "cope" then.

Agba o nitan l'orile

- double post -

In my own opinion, I could guess that Lagos witnessed its largest influx of migrants between 1998 and 2010. This period also coincided with the beginning of massive importation of goods into Nigeria.

I remember the mega traffic jam on 3rd Mainland Bridge in 1989 when the Eko Bridge was being repaired.

The Lagos Steam Tramway

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/akintokunbo-a-adejumo/on-the-history-of-nigeria-railways-the-lagos-steam-tramway-1902-1913.html

Me i don't know o. I have not lived in lagos before but i am sure the population is contributory to the third mainland bridge traffic that brought abt this question in the first place. Nigerians involve themselves in too much immorality these days and this have caused over population & lack of jobs unlike in those days. ZIP UP GUYS, MINIMISE ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE. Use condoms.

In the 80s traffic on Ikorodu road used to be hell in the mornings, it was usually so bad on the Jibowu to Yaba bridge that my dad would be reading his papers while driving (never liked that as I dreaded him hitting vehicles), the trains moved like clock work too, infact, whenever we went for center around apapa road, I will walk down to Iddo to join the trains moving at 2pm or 4pm from Iddo to Agege dropping on the way. The odd and even numbers also helped to decongest the roads, though people got around it by having the PRESS sticker.

Jarus:

Agba o nitan l'orile

Lol. Amin o!!! Oga Jarus, you sef dey feel Bros insight abi? This is what i consider the essence of nairaland. LEARNING from others, even while educating them.

Some people don old oo.