Traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway worsened on Wednesday after a five-vehicle crash near Otedola Bridge, inward Berger. This incident added to an already severe gridlock along the corridor.
According to Channels Television, the crash involved three trucks and two other vehicles. No death was recorded, but several people sustained injuries, while one victim trapped inside a truck was rescued.
The rescue involved personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps, police, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and Lagos State Ambulance Service.
LASTMA said its officers were deployed to the scene for rescue, evacuation and traffic control. The accident caused a backlog stretching towards the Toll Gate.
Five vehicles involved in crash
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said its response team arrived at the scene at 1:28 p.m. This was about 10 minutes after receiving a distress call.
LASEMA identified the vehicles as a containerised truck, a loaded trailer, a truck carrying a generator, a white Honda and a Lexus.
Preliminary findings indicated that the containerised truck developed a mechanical fault while moving. This caused the driver to lose control and crash into three vehicles.
Another truck then rammed into the vehicles from behind.
All trapped victims were rescued alive and given first aid before being taken to the Trauma Centre for further treatment.
Towing trucks and a crane were later deployed to remove the damaged vehicles and reopen the affected section of the road.
Crash compounds existing gridlock
The Otedola accident further worsened congestion that had persisted since Tuesday. This had followed a separate seven-vehicle crash at Kara Bridge and ongoing repairs to the bridge’s expansion joints.
The earlier crash involved a 40-foot container truck which reportedly suffered a mechanical fault before hitting several vehicles.
Traffic subsequently stretched beyond the Long Bridge towards Magboro and back into Lagos, leaving motorists stranded for several hours.
By Wednesday morning, commuters were still struggling with the congestion.
One transporter, Ibrahim, described movement between Mowe and Berger as “very, very serious.”
“From Mowe to Berger now? Two persons is 8,000 Naira,” he said, referring to the motorcycle fare being charged for two passengers.
Commuters trek, sleep in vehicles
Another commuter said he had spent about two hours in traffic after leaving Bagada at 6:30 a.m. He then decided to continue his journey on foot.
“Some drivers are sleeping on the side because there’s no movement,” he said.
A traveller heading to Aba also said the congestion forced him to spend the night inside his vehicle.
“In Ikeja, we slept there since 3 a.m. We slept there till this morning,” he said.
Another motorist said he had been trapped since entering the traffic from Apapa late Tuesday.
“I’ve been in this traffic since 10 o’clock in the night yesterday,” he said.
Kara Bridge repairs add pressure
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has faced additional pressure since the Federal Government began repairs on Kara Bridge expansion joints on September 8.
The work has reduced available road space. As a result, it has made the corridor more vulnerable to severe congestion whenever crashes or vehicle breakdowns occur.
Traffic authorities have urged motorists travelling through Otedola, Berger and Kara to exercise caution and cooperate with officials managing traffic. These requests come as recovery and repair operations continue.
