Much to the chagrin of many, headache-inducing traffic jams - the scourge of Nigeria's former capital city, Lagos - appear to have suddenly become a constant feature in Abuja, the nation's ultra-modern capital. Taillights of cars stuck in traffic lining streets as far as the eye can see are now a common sight in the city. Tales of hours spent in traffic by commuters on their way to and from work are also frequently exchanged by residents these days. A city famous for its 'from scratch' planning should have anticipated emerging traffic challenges.
Town planning experts and residents attribute the gridlock in Abuja to a number of factors. There is a growing notion that the capital city currently plays host to more visitors and residents than its present level of infrastructure can handle, especially as socio-economic upheavals as well as insecurity in certain parts of the country are forcing more Nigerians to head to the FCT in search of peace and safety.
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