No fewer than 12 persons died in separate road accidents recorded on New Year’s Day along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and in different locations across Lagos and Ogun states.
The incidents were confirmed in separate statements issued on Thursday by the spokespersons of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi; the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq; and the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Afolabi Odunsi.
Akinbiyi disclosed that a fatal crash at the NASFAT turning on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed eight lives, while 11 other persons sustained injuries.
He explained that the crash occurred around 3 p.m. when a Mazda commercial bus collided with a truck, attributing the cause to excessive speed.
He stated, “A fatal crash occurred at the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, NASFAT turning, involving an 18-seater Mazda bus with registration number APP 943 XP and a Volvo truck with registration number AKM 547 YQ.
“According to an eyewitness, the 18-passenger bus, which was being driven at excessive speed, rammed into the bottle-laden truck that was attempting to turn towards the Ibadan axis.
“A total of 21 people were involved; 11 sustained injuries, while eight people—including four adult males, two adult females, and two toddlers—lost their lives.”
Akinbiyi added that the injured victims were taken to the State Hospital, Abeokuta, and Famobis Hospital, while the damaged vehicles were moved to the RCCG Police Station.
Meanwhile, the Ogun FRSC spokesperson, Afolabi Odunsi, confirmed that six people died on the spot in the same accident.
Odunsi wrote, “At about 14:36 hours on January 1, 2026, an auto crash occurred, and the FRSC rescue team was informed at about 14:40 hours. The team arrived at the scene at about 14:50 hours along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at the NASFAT junction.
“The crash involved two vehicles — a Mazda commercial bus and a Volvo truck. Eight people were involved; six were killed, while two sustained injuries.”
He attributed the crash to speeding and revealed that the Ogun Sector Commander, Akinwunmi Fasakin, had ordered a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a separate development, Akinbiyi reported that two persons died in a midnight accident along the Sango–Ijoko Road in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to him, the crash occurred after a white Coaster bus, allegedly driven recklessly, hit a minibus, which then rammed into a tricycle.
He identified the vehicles as a white Coaster bus with registration number SMK 191 JT, a yellow minibus with registration number AGL 04 YL, and a tricycle with registration number EPE 954 OF.
He added, “According to the police account, the driver of the white Coaster bus drove dangerously, lost control, and hit the minibus from the rear. The minibus then collided with the tricycle in front, resulting in the death of the only passenger on the tricycle.”
In Lagos State, the LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, said several accidents recorded in different areas led to the death of three persons.
He disclosed that a crash at Iyana Itire along the Lagos-Apapa Expressway resulted in two fatalities.
The incident involved a commercial Volkswagen bus and a Toyota Sienna car, while another accident at Ibeju Bridge, involving a tanker and a car, left two people injured.
Taofiq said, “In a deeply distressing incident that occurred earlier today at Iyana Itire, inward Oshodi, a violent collision between a Volkswagen commercial bus (SMK 850 HK) and a Toyota Sienna car (KSF 329 XL) claimed the lives of two persons.
“In a separate but equally serious accident along Ibeju Bridge, the inward Eleko axis of the Lekki–Ajah Expressway, a DAF tanker collided with an Opel Zafira car (EPE 537 GZ).
“Similarly, at Owode Elede, inward Owode Onirin along the Ikorodu Road corridor, another severe crash involving a Volkswagen commercial bus (AGL 713 XP) and a Toyota Corolla car (AGL 607 JF) left four persons injured. LASTMA operatives, acting with commendable dispatch, rescued the victims and ensured their immediate transfer to the hospital while restoring traffic normalcy.”
In another statement, Taofiq revealed that a hit-and-run driver caused the death of a truck driver in the Shangotedo area of Eleko, Lagos State.
He explained that the driver of a 40-foot containerised truck had parked by the roadside and was placing a caution sign to warn approaching motorists when he was struck by a speeding vehicle.
He said, “Upon receipt of distress notifications, the LASTMA 24-hour Night Gang, actively monitoring vehicular flow overnight within the corridor, swiftly deployed to the scene and secured the accident zone to forestall secondary collisions.
“In a deeply distressing turn of events, while the truck driver was conscientiously attempting to deploy a ‘C’ caution sign to alert oncoming motorists, a recklessly speeding vehicle struck him.
“The errant driver absconded without rendering assistance, leaving the victim grievously injured. The impact resulted in the instantaneous death of the truck driver.
“LASTMA rescue operatives promptly evacuated the deceased from the carriageway and handed over the remains to officers of the Elemoro Police Station. A comprehensive investigation is ongoing to identify and prosecute the fleeing driver.”
Reacting to the incidents, the LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commiserated with the families of the deceased.
“He sternly cautioned motorists to exercise heightened safety consciousness, comply strictly with traffic laws, and observe regulated speed limits as stipulated by the Lagos State Government, stressing that excessive speed and disregard for warning signs remain lethal contributors to road fatalities.
“LASTMA reaffirms its unwavering resolve to enforce road safety regulations and appeals to motorists to uphold patience, vigilance, and reverence for human life, especially during emergencies on the highways,” Taofiq added.
The spate of accidents has further darkened the yuletide period, which has been marked by repeated fatal crashes across major highways.
PUNCH Metro had reported on December 29, 2025, that two friends of British-Nigerian boxing star, Anthony Joshua, died in a road accident around the Danco area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Road Safety Corps had attributed that crash to speeding and dangerous driving.
