Traffic was thrown into chaos on Wednesday after protesting truck drivers blocked the Ogere section of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, causing hours of gridlock before authorities restored order.
The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) confirmed the incident, warning truck operators against further traffic violations.
According to the agency’s spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, the crisis began after a multi-agency task force arrested three trucks earlier in the day for illegal double-parking, an offence officials say regularly disrupts traffic despite the availability of designated trailer parks.
Akinbiyi explained that one of the impounded drivers — identified as a Dangote truck operator — arrived at the task force office around 7:00 a.m., demanding the immediate release of his vehicle. He reportedly became aggressive when told that processing could only begin at 8:00 a.m., the stipulated time for documentation and sensitisation before release.
“The driver exhibited irrational behaviour and threatened to cause chaos,” Akinbiyi said, noting that the man later mobilised fellow truckers to block the expressway “in a deliberate attempt to embarrass the state government.”
The blockade resulted in severe delays for motorists along the Ogere–Sapade axis, with commuters stranded for hours.
Senior security and community leaders — including the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunnowo, the Seriki Hausawa of Ogere, and TRACE leadership — intervened to de-escalate tensions. The impounded trucks were subsequently handed over to community representatives in a bid to calm the situation.
Although the highway has since been reopened, officials say traffic remains slow due to the heavy backlog created by the obstruction.
TRACE reiterated its commitment to strict enforcement of road regulations as the high-risk ember months continue, urging truck drivers and fleet operators to prioritise safety and avoid actions that endanger other road users.
The spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ogun Sector Command, Afolabi Odunsi, also confirmed the incident, saying the protest had been resolved and traffic management teams were working to clear the gridlock
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