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Thousands of motorists were stranded on Friday as several road accidents caused severe traffic jams on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, disrupting movement along the Kara Bridge section of the busy highway.
The congestion followed crashes on both the exit and entry lanes of the expressway in the early hours of Friday, leaving commuters stranded for hours as emergency workers worked to clear the affected areas.
The crashes left one dead and two others injured, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which advised motorists to avoid the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor until recovery operations were concluded.
The Lagos Sector Education Officer of the FRSC, Elizabeth Jayeola, confirmed that rescue and recovery efforts were underway, adding that traffic officers had been deployed to handle the situation.
Several accidents cause traffic chaos
The FRSC said the first accident occurred at around 12.05am on the exit lane of the expressway towards Ibadan.
The accident involved five tractor-trailers and a Toyota Sienna; preliminary investigations revealed that excessive speed and loss of control contributed to the collision.
Seven adult men were involved in the accident. One person died, one was injured, while five others escaped without injuries.
The corps explained that recovery efforts were delayed as the body of the deceased became trapped under one of the heavily loaded trucks, requiring heavy equipment for evacuation.
The second accident worsens the congestion
While emergency workers were dealing with the first accident, another accident occurred on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos at around 3.15am.
The second accident involved a Mazda commercial bus and was attributed to brake failure.
The driver sustained serious injuries and was rescued by FRSC operatives before being taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Center for medical treatment.
The additional accident further aggravated the traffic situation as emergency crews worked on multiple accidents along the expressway at the same time.
The FRSC distracts motorists
The FRSC said its rescue team, together with officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other responders, were working to remove the damaged vehicles, recover the trapped victim and restore normal traffic movement.
Lagos Sector Commander Kehinde Hamzat sympathized with the families of the victims and appealed to motorists to remain patient while traffic officials handled the situation.
He advised motorists traveling from Lagos towards Ibadan to use the Ikorodu-Sagamu route as an alternative, while those heading to Lagos were encouraged to consider the Lekki-Epe Expressway or the Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway.
Motorists are advised to ensure the suitability of their vehicle
The FRSC urged motorists, particularly operators of tractor-trailers and commercial buses, to ensure their vehicles receive proper maintenance before embarking on their journey.
The body stressed that respecting speed limits, regular checks of vehicles and compliance with road safety rules are necessary to reduce accidents and prevent avoidable disruptions on major highways.
