Detty December Traffic in Lagos: A Facility Manager’s View From the Gridlock

Kenny Akintola

As a facility manager in Lagos, December is not just a festive season, it’s a logistical survival test. While Detty December brings colour, concerts, weddings, and endless celebrations, it also brings traffic so intense that it quietly turns from inconvenience to public safety risk.
Yes, the vibes are premium. But from where I stand responsible for buildings, people, safety systems, and emergency response, Detty December traffic is more than “normal Lagos wahala.” It is a problem that can cost lives.

The Good Side: Economic Activity and Full Buildings
Let’s start with the positives.
December traffic means buildings are alive. Apartments are fully occupied. Short-let facilities are booked out. Offices run skeletal services, but estates, malls, hotels, and event spaces are operating at full capacity. Vendors, cleaners, security teams, technicians, and maintenance staff are all employed and active.
For facility managers, this period confirms one thing: Lagos works hard and plays harder. The economy is moving even if the cars aren’t.

The Reality Check: When Traffic Becomes a Safety Hazard
Now the part we can’t laugh about.
Traffic is not just stressful it is dangerous, especially during Detty December.
From a facility management perspective, one of our core responsibilities is emergency preparedness. Fire outbreaks, medical emergencies, power-related incidents these things don’t take holidays. But December traffic makes responding to them extremely difficult.
Fire services are often stuck in traffic, sirens blaring, while other vehicles physically cannot move out of the way.
Ambulances carrying critically ill patients are delayed for long periods. In medical emergencies, minutes matter. A delay can easily turn into a tragedy.
Security response teams take far longer to arrive, increasing risks during incidents in estates, malls, or high occupancy buildings.
I’ve seen situations where emergency responders simply couldn’t reach a facility on time not because they didn’t try, but because the roads failed them.
In moments like that, Detty December stops being fun.

Operational Challenges for Facilities
Traffic also affects daily operations: Technicians arrive late to fix faults.
Cleaning and waste management schedules collapse; Security staff struggle with shift changes; Tenants and guests become frustrated and agitated.
All of these increase operational risk. A poorly managed facility during peak season can quickly turn into a liability.

Lagos Can Do Better: Learning from Other Cities
Cities like London (UK) and New York understand that roads alone cannot carry a mega city.
London relies heavily on the Underground, buses, cycling lanes, and walking routes, backed by congestion charges that reduce unnecessary car use in busy areas.
New York offers 24-hour subways, buses, ferries, and bike systems, ensuring that even during major events, emergency services can move faster than regular traffic.
Lagos, as a coastal city, should not be struggling this much when water transportation is a natural advantage. Boats and ferries can move people quickly, reduce road congestion, and allow emergency services clearer access on land.

Water Transport: A Missed Opportunity
From Ikorodu to Victoria Island, from Lekki to the Island, water routes could drastically reduce pressure on roads, especially during peak seasons like December.
With proper regulation, safety standards, affordability, and integration into everyday transport planning, water transportation could become a reliable alternative, not just a luxury option.

A Lesson from Vietnam: Fewer Cars, Safer Cities
Vietnam offers an interesting approach: car-free days and restricted vehicle movement in certain areas. These policies improve air quality, reduce congestion, and make streets safer.

Imagine Lagos implementing: Car-free event zones during Detty December; Restricted vehicle access in high traffic areas; Priority routes for emergency and service vehicles.
This would not only improve traffic flow but also save lives.

The Way Forward
Detty December traffic is a celebration of Lagos’ energy but it is also a warning sign.
As a facility manager, I see firsthand how traffic delays affect safety, response time, and operational efficiency. Fun should never come at the cost of lives.
Lagos doesn’t need less enjoyment, it needs smarter mobility planning: Stronger public transport systems; Serious investment in water transportation; Emergency-priority traffic policies.

Car reduction strategies during peak periods
Until then, while the music is loud and the parties are plenty, those of us managing buildings and people will continue to worry not about missing the party, but about what happens when help can’t arrive on time.
Detty December should be unforgettable for the right reasons, not because of avoidable tragedies.
Till next time, stay safe and see you in the new year. HAPPY HOILDAY.

Kenny Akintola, Chief Facility Officer of Express Business Support