Commuters on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were met with yet another traffic nightmare on Friday after a truck overturned on the Otedola Bridge in the early hours of the day, causing gridlock that stretched all the way back to the Kara.
As early as 7:30 am, there had been a long line of vehicles at a standstill, with motorists attempting to divert onto alternative routes to beat the worsening congestion.
The Lagos State Police Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) confirmed the incident in a Facebook post, revealing that the initial overturn was followed by a secondary crash directly behind the first, compounding the traffic chaos and trapping commuters for hours.
“In the first incident, a fully loaded truck overturned, spilling its consignments and blocking approximately 90 per cent of the carriageway,” the RRS said. “A second accident occurred behind the first, further disrupting traffic flow.”
Motorists have taken to alternative routes to beat the traffic snarl. However, some on the routes have reported heavy congestion there as well, with many of them advising those coming behind them to stick to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), led by spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed that officers were on the ground managing the scene, directing traffic and assisting wth rescue operations.
Recent Crash Pattern on Otedola Bridge
The latest incident comes amid heightened safety concerns on the Otedola Bridge, a notorious point along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that has seen a series of dangerous crashes in recent weeks.
Just last month, multiple fatal collisions were reported on the same expressway section, drawing widespread public attention to what many drivers describe as a perilous stretch, especially during early morning and night hours.
In several cases, fatigued driving and vehicle instability were cited as contributing factors.
Road safety advocates have repeatedly called for enhanced enforcement, better lighting, improved signage, and regular patrols to curb the frequency of accidents near the Otedola axis.
