Nigeria has the second-longest road network in Africa, with an estimated 195,000 kilometres of roads, according to data cited in rankings of the continent’s road infrastructure.

The figure places Nigeria behind South Africa, which has an estimated 750,000 kilometres of roads. Kenya ranks third with about 161,452 kilometres.

The ranking highlights the extensive road infrastructure across Africa, although the total length of a country’s road network does not necessarily reflect the quality, condition or accessibility of its roads.

FULL TOP 10 LIST

1. South Africa — 750,000 km

2. Nigeria — 195,000 km

3. Kenya — 161,452 km

4. Democratic Republic of Congo — 152,373 km

5. Tanzania — 145,203 km

6. Mali — 139,107 km

7. Ethiopia — 120,171 km

8. Algeria — 104,000 km

9. Zimbabwe — 97,267 km

10. South Sudan — 90,200 km

Nigeria’s 195,000-kilometre figure is consistent with figures cited by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which describes Nigeria’s road network as the largest in West Africa and the second-largest south of the Sahara.

The network comprises approximately 33,000 kilometres of federal roads, 50,000 kilometres of state roads and 117,000 kilometres of local government and feeder roads.

However, the 195,000-kilometre figure should not necessarily be interpreted as a newly measured 2026 total. A 2024 academic study reported that Nigeria’s road network grew only marginally, from about 193,200 kilometres in 2005 to 195,000 kilometres in 2021.