•FRSC officials at scene of accident
Motorists on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway are facing severe delays following two separate accidents on major bridges connecting Lagos with the southwestern hinterland.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has issued warnings urging drivers to exercise caution.
The first incident occurred on the Otedola Bridge, inward Berger, involving five vehicles, reports The Guardian.
LASTMA reported that emergency responders were on site to secure the scene and manage traffic flow. The accident caused significant congestion, with traffic backing up to the Ojota Bridge.
A separate collision took place on Kara Bridge, inward Opic, involving eight vehicles.
Tow trucks have been deployed to remove the disabled vehicles, while LASTMA officers directed traffic to alleviate gridlock. “Tow trucks are on the ground to move the vehicles off the road, and our officers are on the scene managing the traffic situation. Please drive with caution always,” the agency stated on social media.
Kara Bridge, which spans the Ogun River at the Lagos-Ogun boundary, has been the site of multiple accidents in recent years.
In October, no fewer than six people, including a police inspector, died following a multi-vehicle collision on the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The accident involved several trucks, including a fuel tanker.
Eyewitnesses revealed that one of the trucks veered off the road, crashed into the brick barricade of the bridge, and was subsequently severed, causing the head of the vehicle to plunge into the Ogun River.
LASTMA confirmed eight casualties in total but did not provide further details. A video shared by the agency showed the damaged trucks and lifeless bodies at the scene. LASTMA noted that a towing van sent to separate the vehicles was also damaged during the operation.
The incident caused a major traffic gridlock on the expressway, forcing some motorists to drive against traffic. Commercial drivers reportedly exploited the congestion to increase fares, charging between ₦2,000 and ₦2,500 for the Berger-Oshodi route instead of the usual ₦1,000 to ₦1,200.
The Kara Bridge collision comes less than 24 hours after another truck accident on the Otedola Bridge, underscoring ongoing safety challenges on Nigeria’s busiest transport corridors.
Federal Road Safety Corps marshals were on hand to manage the situation and assist in the recovery of vehicles.
