Crisis does not send a calendar invite. It crashes through the front door, often at the worst possible moment, bringing confusion in its wake. Whether personal, organisational, or systemic, the early hours of a crisis are noisy, emotional, and overwhelming. Everyone looks for a plan. Few find clarity. But clarity is always there hidden in plain sight. The challenge is not its absence, but our readiness to pause, observe, and lead with it.
The first instinct in crisis is to act. Do something — anything — to stop the bleeding. But often, rapid action without situational awareness deepens the chaos. In high-stakes environments, this is known as the “fog of war.” In business, politics, or civic leadership, it’s the same principle: decisions made in panic usually serve panic, not progress.
In March 2025, a vivid example unfolded in Lagos, Nigeria — a megacity known for its fragile transport infrastructure — was brought to a grinding halt. A major traffic incident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway sparked a massive gridlock that left commuters stranded for hours. While details of the initial crash remained unclear, it was reported that its aftermath crippled movement across one of the country’s most important economic corridors.
With no clear communication, no alternative routes activated in time, and no coordinated emergency response, what should have been a manageable disruption escalated into a full-blown urban paralysis reported as reported by Grace Edema (https://punchng.com). Stranded commuters flooded social media with images of the chaos. Official communication was scarce. It took hours before coordinated traffic diversions and emergency responses began to take shape. But eventually, it was resolved and everyone moves on. But did they? Could they? Some crises alter lives forever; even the lives of those who do not think they had been affected!
The March 25th traffic chaos unfortunately was not an isolated case. Just weeks later, the Independence Bridge was shut down for urgent repairs — triggering another wave of crisis. Despite prior announcements by federal authorities, the closure caught the city off guard. Heavy rain on the same morning worsened an already fragile traffic system. The result was another traffic catastrophe.
“Commuters were trapped for hours. Parents couldn’t reach schools. Workers missed critical meetings. Tragically, a seven-year-old boy died in traffic because the car rushing him to a hospital couldn’t break free of the gridlock. A commuter with an ulcer nearly lost consciousness. Others resorted to ferries or simply turned back home, exhausted and bewildered.”
Traffic crisis in Lagos expose more than simple traffic situations; they have laid bare a profound governance crisis. What residents endured was not merely traffic gridlock but a failure of systems, communication, and foresight—a humanitarian emergency demanding urgent introspection. As Lagos grapples with these challenges, the crisis mirrors broader struggles faced by rapidly urbanising African cities. Yet, this moment also presents an opportunity to reimagine urban mobility through lessons from global innovators and regional pioneers.
Effective crisis management begins long before emergencies arise. Singapore’s Smart Traffic System, which integrates real-time data from road sensors and GPS to dynamically adjust tolls and routes, offers a model of proactive governance. Contrast this with Lagos, where bridge closures were announced without parallel investments in alternative routes or real-time updates — a misstep that amplified chaos.
Rwanda’s approach to Kigali’s transport overhaul illustrates the value of preparation: the accreditation of 18 new operators and 200 buses in March 2024 was paired with clear route expansions and digital payment systems, ensuring minimal disruption. These examples underscore that crises are mitigated not by ad-hoc reactions but by institutional rigour and transparent communication.
Chaos, when decoded, becomes a roadmap for reform. Singapore’s shift from static toll booths to a satellite-based Electronic Road Pricing system by 2025 exemplifies how confusion — in this case, congestion patterns — can inform innovation. Similarly, Dakar’s all-electric Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, projected to cut travel times by 30 percent, emerged from decades of traffic paralysis.
Lagos’s gridlock reveals critical data: overstretched infrastructure, poor interagency coordination, and a lack of public trust. The solution lies in treating every complaint and contradiction as actionable insights. Leadership in times of crisis requires resisting the allure of quick fixes.
Johannesburg’s Rea Vaya BRT system prioritised long-term sustainability over short-term convenience, integrating renewable energy and AI-driven logistics to future-proof its network. For Lagos, this means asking foundational questions: Is the goal merely to unclog roads, or to redesign a mobility ecosystem that prioritises equity and resilience? Kigali’s answer included non-motorised transport lanes and e-mobility investments — a holistic vision that reduced congestion while advancing climate goals.
Lagos must treat traffic crisis as a catalyst for transformation. First, adopt smart traffic technologies, such as adaptive signal control and GPS-enabled public transit, to optimise flow. Second, foster public-private partnerships to expand infrastructure, mirroring Dar es Salaam’s BRT success. Third, institutionalise transparency through platforms providing real-time updates, building public trust. Finally, prioritise sustainability by electrifying bus fleets, as seen in Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
Clarity is not inherited; it is cultivated through deliberate action. Lagos’s traffic debacle is a summons to embrace data, collaboration, and foresight. By learning from some African cities redefining mobility and global leaders like Singapore, Lagos can transcend gridlock — both literal and systemic — to emerge as a beacon of urban innovation. The time for reactive governance has passed; the future belongs to cities that dare to see crises not as disruptions but as blueprints for renewal.
“In every crisis, doubt or confusion, take the higher path – the path of compassion, courage, understanding and love.” Amit Ray
