Lagos, Ogun deploy traffic officers to tackle Lagos-Ibadan Expressway gridlock

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The Lagos and Ogun State governments have deployed additional traffic personnel to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to manage the severe congestion around the Kara Bridge corridor.

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The move followed a prolonged gridlock that left motorists and commuters stranded for several hours on Tuesday and Wednesday after a multiple-vehicle crash compounded ongoing rehabilitation work on the bridge.

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The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, in a statement posted on X, said on Wednesday that the fallen tanker involved in the latest obstruction had been evacuated by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

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The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Olawale Musa, however, said the situation had been worsened by some motorists driving against traffic.

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Musa said more traffic officers had been deployed to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway axis to manage traffic and improve movement.

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He added that the ministry would continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps and LASTMA, to ease the situation.

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Musa said the ongoing rehabilitation work at Kara Bridge might temporarily cause inconvenience but remained essential to preserving critical transport infrastructure and guaranteeing the long-term safety, functionality and resilience of the corridor.

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He said the rehabilitation work would be completed soon.

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Also speaking, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said officials of the agency had continued to work round the clock to ensure smoother traffic flow.

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He urged motorists to remain patient and desist from driving against traffic whenever there was an obstruction on the road.

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Bakare-Oki said the agency would continue its public advocacy efforts to encourage voluntary compliance with traffic rules. He also advised motorists to use alternative routes.

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He said “Motorists can access the Ikorodu Garage–Ogijo–Sagamu route, connecting through Lotto to the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. Those travelling towards Lagos and adjoining destinations may also consider the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway.”

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The LASTMA boss said “Motorists heading towards Ijebu-Ode may use the Ikorodu–Ijebu-Ode route to reduce pressure on the Kara Bridge corridor and improve traffic distribution.”

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Meanwhile, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the state had mobilised the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency to strengthen traffic coordination and assist road users around Kara Bridge and adjoining sections of the expressway.

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Abiodun, in a statement posted on his X handle on Wednesday, said TRACE personnel were working with security, emergency and traffic management agencies to clear obstructions, prevent further gridlock and improve movement along the affected axis.

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He urged motorists to approach the area with caution, avoid driving against traffic and refrain from creating additional lanes, saying such actions often worsen congestion and delay emergency operations.

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“Commercial drivers and articulated vehicle operators are particularly advised to exercise restraint and comply with all traffic directions,” the governor said.

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He said the state government’s immediate priority was to protect lives, maintain order and reduce the inconvenience being experienced by commuters.

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“We will continue to monitor the situation and deploy the necessary personnel and resources until normal traffic flow is restored,” Abiodun said.

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“We appreciate the patience and cooperation of all road users.”

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The development followed Tuesday’s gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where motorists were trapped for hours after a multiple-vehicle crash at the Kara Bridge compounded ongoing repair works.

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The crash involved seven vehicles and initially disrupted movement towards Ogun State, with the resulting congestion later stretching beyond the Long Bridge towards Magboro and into Lagos.

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As the congestion worsened, some motorists drove against traffic in an attempt to escape the gridlock, creating another bottleneck for vehicles heading towards Lagos.

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Although the crashed vehicles were subsequently removed, the influx of motorists who had driven against traffic created another obstruction at the OPIC end of the road as they attempted to rejoin the proper lane.

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