Movement and business activities were grounded along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday as a 40-foot container-laden truck crashed into several vehicles and overturned on the Kara Bridge, worsening the already severe traffic situation on the major highway.
The accident, which occurred at about 8 a.m., left four people injured, according to an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The injured victims were reportedly evacuated to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
The crash occurred on the Kara Bridge, where repairs of damaged expansion joints are already contributing to prolonged traffic congestion on the expressway.
Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, an FRSC official, Mr A. D. Abudulai, said the truck crashed into other vehicles before overturning and blocking the entire carriageway.
He said FRSC personnel, alongside other first responders from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), were deployed to the scene for rescue and traffic management operations.
However, by 3:30 p.m., the situation had deteriorated, with human and vehicular movement virtually at a standstill along major sections of the highway.
The gridlock had spread from the Kara Bridge towards Ojota and Alapere in Lagos, leaving thousands of commuters, workers, motorists and business operators stranded.
Many passengers were seen stranded at Berger, Otedola, Secretariat and Ojota bus stops as commercial vehicles became trapped in the traffic.
Some commuters who could no longer endure the prolonged delay abandoned their buses and resorted to trekking to their destinations.
The situation became so severe that Nigerian Tribune reporters monitoring the development trekked from the Secretariat Bus Stop in Lagos towards Opic Bus Stop in Ogun State.
Commercial buses, popularly known as Danfo, were also caught up in the gridlock, while commercial motorcycle operators took advantage of the situation to increase their fares, in some cases charging passengers almost double the normal rates.
An eyewitness, who declined to give his name, expressed frustration over the handling of the incident, saying the accident had caused enormous hardship for commuters who had been trapped on the highway for several hours.
The latest incident has further highlighted the vulnerability of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, one of the country’s busiest transport corridors, to traffic disruptions caused by accidents, roadworks and vehicle breakdowns.
LASTMA, in a statement, attributed the crash to an alleged brake failure.
According to the agency, “A 40ft container-laden truck reportedly had a brake failure and rammed into the demarcation blocks and other vehicles at the exit of Kara Bridge.”
LASTMA said its officials, supported by police personnel, were deployed to the scene to control traffic and facilitate the evacuation of the affected vehicles.
Despite the intervention of emergency responders, the prolonged clearance operation left commuters facing hours of delays, with serious implications for productivity and commercial activities on both sides of the Lagos-Ogun corridor.
The incident also renewed concerns over the need for effective traffic management, prompt removal of crashed vehicles and stronger enforcement of safety standards for heavy-duty trucks using the expressway.