Motorists Trapped in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Gridlock After Multiple Crashes, FRSC Provides Alternative Routes

• FRSC directs motorists to alternative routes after multiple crashes cripple traffic on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

• One person killed and two others injured in separate overnight crashes involving five articulated trucks, a Toyota Sienna and a Mazda commercial bus.

• Recovery operations delayed as the body of the deceased remains trapped beneath a heavily loaded articulated truck, requiring specialised equipment.

• Emergency agencies battle to clear wreckage and restore traffic flow as thousands of commuters remain stranded in the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor.

July 24, () — Thousands of motorists were stranded in a massive traffic gridlock on Friday after multiple crashes on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway disrupted movement on one of Nigeria’s busiest highways.

This prompted the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to issue an urgent advisory directing road users to alternative routes.

The crashes, which occurred within hours of each other on both the outbound and inbound carriageways of the expressway, claimed one life and left two other persons injured, while emergency responders battled to clear the wreckage and restore normal traffic flow.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway serves as the country’s busiest interstate transport corridor, connecting Lagos with the South-West, North-Central and northern parts of Nigeria.

The Kara Bridge axis has long been identified as a major accident hotspot due to heavy traffic, the high volume of articulated trucks and recurring cases of speeding and mechanical failures.

First Crash Involves Five Trucks, Toyota Sienna

According to a statement issued by the Lagos Sector Public Education Officer of the FRSC, Elizabeth Jayeola, the first crash occurred at about 12:05 a.m. on the outbound carriageway towards Ibadan. The accident involved five articulated trucks and a Toyota Sienna bus.

Preliminary investigations by the Corps attributed the crash to excessive speed and loss of control.

The FRSC said seven adult males were involved in the collision. One person was confirmed dead, one sustained injuries, while five others escaped unhurt.

The Corps added that recovery operations were complicated because the body of the deceased remained trapped beneath one of the heavily loaded articulated trucks.

“The body of the deceased is trapped underneath one of the heavily loaded trucks, necessitating the deployment of heavy-duty recovery equipment before evacuation can be completed,” the statement said.

Second Crash Worsens Gridlock

While emergency responders were still working to clear the first accident, another crash occurred at about 3:15 a.m. on theA inbound carriageway towards Lagos.

The second incident involved a Mazda commercial bus in a lone crash caused by brake failure.

The driver sustained serious injuries and was promptly rescued by FRSC personnel before being taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for treatment.

The Corps said the two crashes significantly worsened traffic conditions around the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor, leaving thousands of commuters and commercial transport operators trapped in hours-long gridlock.

Rescue teams from the FRSC, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other emergency responders continued efforts to evacuate the crashed vehicles, recover the trapped victim and reopen the affected sections of the highway.

FRSC Announces Alternative Routes

Reacting to the incidents, the Lagos Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat, sympathised with the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He appealed to motorists to remain patient and cooperate with traffic officials while emergency operations continued.

Hamzat urged motorists to avoid the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor until the recovery exercise is completed.

According to him, motorists travelling from Lagos towards Ibadan should divert through the Ikorodu-Sagamu Road, while those travelling into Lagos should consider using either the Lekki-Epe Expressway or the Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway to minimise delays.

He stressed that compliance with the advisory would help ease congestion and allow emergency responders to safely complete recovery operations.

FRSC Urges Safer Driving

The Corps also renewed its call on motorists—particularly operators of articulated trucks and commercial buses—to ensure their vehicles are mechanically fit before embarking on any journey.

It blamed the crashes on excessive speeding, loss of control and brake failure, warning that strict adherence to speed limits, routine vehicle maintenance and compliance with traffic regulations remain essential to reducing road crashes and preventing avoidable loss of lives.

The Corps assured the public that emergency personnel would remain at the scene until all damaged vehicles were evacuated and normal traffic flow fully restored on the affected section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.