Nigeria has the second-largest road network in Africa, with an estimated 195,000 kilometres of total roadway coverage, according to the 2026 Global Firepower ranking.
The figure places Nigeria behind South Africa, which dominates the continental ranking with about 750,000 kilometres of roadway coverage. Nigeria also ranks among the countries with the largest road networks globally.
The ranking highlights the scale of Nigeria’s road infrastructure and its importance to the country’s economy. Roads remain the main means of transporting people and goods across much of Nigeria, linking major cities, commercial centres, ports, agricultural communities and industrial areas.
However, Nigeria’s second-place position should not be interpreted as meaning the country has the second-best roads in Africa.
The Global Firepower ranking measures the size of the roadway network, not the quality, safety, maintenance level or percentage of roads that are paved.
This distinction is particularly important for Nigeria, where the large size of the road network has been accompanied by serious concerns over poor maintenance and deteriorating infrastructure.
The World Bank said in 2024 that about 80 per cent of Nigeria’s road network was in poor condition, warning that inadequate road infrastructure was limiting economic development and access to essential services.
Full list of Africa’s 10 largest road networks
- South Africa — 750,000 km
South Africa has Africa’s largest road network, with about 750,000 kilometres of roadway coverage. Its network is almost four times the size of Nigeria’s, putting the country far ahead of every other African nation in the ranking.
- Nigeria — 195,000 km
Nigeria ranks second with approximately 195,000 kilometres of roadway coverage. The extensive network connects the country’s major economic centres and provides critical links between urban and rural communities.
- Ethiopia — 180,000 km
Ethiopia occupies third place with about 180,000 kilometres of roads, putting it behind Nigeria despite its rapidly expanding transport infrastructure.
- Kenya — 161,452 km
Kenya ranks fourth with 161,452 kilometres of roadway coverage. Its road network is particularly important for connecting major cities, agricultural areas, ports and neighbouring countries.
- Democratic Republic of Congo — 152,373 km
The Democratic Republic of Congo ranks fifth with 152,373 kilometres of roads.
- Tanzania — 145,203 km
Tanzania has the sixth-largest road network in Africa, covering approximately 145,203 kilometres.
- Mali — 139,107 km
Mali ranks seventh with 139,107 kilometres of roadway coverage.
- Algeria — 112,696 km
Algeria occupies eighth position with 112,696 kilometres.
- Zimbabwe — 97,267 km
Zimbabwe ranks ninth with a road network of about 97,267 kilometres.
- South Sudan — 90,200 km
South Sudan completes Africa’s top 10 with approximately 90,200 kilometres of roadway coverage.
Why Nigeria’s road network matters
Nigeria’s extensive road network is critical to the movement of agricultural produce, manufactured goods, petroleum products and other commodities across the country.
Farmers depend on roads to move their produce from rural communities to markets, while manufacturers and traders rely on highways to transport raw materials and finished goods.
Roads also determine how easily people can access schools, hospitals, workplaces and other essential services, particularly in rural communities.
Poor roads, however, can increase transportation costs, lengthen travel times and make it more difficult for farmers and businesses to reach markets.
The World Bank has warned that the poor condition of Nigeria’s road infrastructure is already affecting economic activity and access to services. It has also linked the deterioration of roads to inadequate funding and climate-related pressures, including heavy rainfall and rising temperatures.
The Federal Government and development partners have therefore continued to push for greater investment in road infrastructure, particularly rural roads that connect farming communities with markets.
The World Bank-backed Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project is among the initiatives aimed at improving rural connectivity and strengthening access to agricultural markets.
The challenge for Nigeria is therefore not simply to have a large road network but to ensure that the network is properly constructed, maintained and accessible throughout the year.
A large road network can only deliver its full economic value when roads are safe and functional enough to support the movement of people and goods.
Nigeria’s second-place position in Africa consequently presents both an achievement and a reminder of the infrastructure work that remains.
The country already possesses one of the continent’s largest road networks. The bigger challenge is turning that extensive network into reliable infrastructure capable of reducing transport costs, supporting businesses, improving access to markets and driving economic growth.
The 2026 ranking therefore puts Nigeria among Africa’s leading countries in terms of road-network size, while the condition of the roads remains a separate and pressing infrastructure challenge
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