The Lagos State Government plans to transition from its current monocentric urban development model, where most activities are concentrated in a single central area, to a polycentric metropolis with multiple hubs.
This shift aims to enhance commuting efficiency and improve urban living. A monocentric metropolis often leads to high density and congestion, while a polycentric approach distributes activities across various districts, reducing congestion and promoting balanced development.
This transformation plan is detailed in the Lagos State Transport Policy, unveiled last week. The policy outlines actions to address interconnected mobility challenges. According to Section 3 (3.3) ‘Land Use and Transport,’ the policy states, “The Government will promote the transformation of the present monocentric spatial development pattern of Lagos State into a polycentric one.”
The state government recognizes that the current monocentric development is unsustainable, resulting in longer travel distances, increased traffic congestion, and adverse environmental impacts. Therefore, the push for a polycentric spatial development aims to create multiple hubs of activity, reducing travel distances and costs, and promoting economic, social, and recreational activities.
This new design will prioritize people over vehicles, utilizing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) principles to optimize land use. The policy also emphasizes the importance of good pedestrian and non-motorized transport (NMT) linkages, supported by high-quality ‘First and Last Mile’ (FLM) transit services to meet residents’ needs locally. This approach is expected to improve quality of life by reducing commuting time, decreasing environmental pollution, and increasing time for economic and social activities.
The successful implementation of this plan will require intensive and coordinated efforts from key sector ministries, departments, and agencies of the Lagos State Government, especially the Ministry of Transport (MOT), Ministry of Works and Infrastructure (MOWI), and Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD).
Section 3 (3.3) of the Lagos State Transport Policy explains that the state government, through the MPPUD in collaboration with other ministries, departments, and agencies, will review the state’s model city plans to achieve the transformation into a polycentric metropolis. The policy ensures that existing Model City Plans will be reviewed to align with the goal of creating a polycentric city. These reviews will be carried out by multi-disciplinary teams of relevant experts led by the MPPUD.
Given the size of Lagos, the review will focus on promoting the development of several urban centers, around which multi-use development densities will increase. These centers will include transit hubs to boost public transport connectivity and sustainability. Land use development will be intensified within these designated centers and discouraged elsewhere.
There will be proactive enforcement of land use restrictions, and all new development proposals will be required to undergo Traffic Impact Assessments (TIA) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA). Large developments will also need multi-modal Transportation Impact Studies (TIS).
