Motorists on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway experienced severe delays on Tuesday following two separate accidents on key bridges linking Lagos with the southwestern hinterland.
Gatekeepers News reports that rehe Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) issued warnings urging road users to exercise caution as emergency responders worked to clear the affected areas and restore traffic flow.
The first accident occurred on the Otedola Bridge, inward Berger, and involved five vehicles. LASTMA said its officers and emergency responders were immediately deployed to secure the scene and manage traffic. The crash triggered heavy congestion, with traffic stretching as far back as the Ojota Bridge.
A second accident was recorded on the Kara Bridge, inward Opic, where eight vehicles were involved in a collision. Tow trucks were deployed to evacuate the disabled vehicles, while LASTMA officers directed traffic to ease the 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,” LASTMA said in a statement shared on social media.
Kara Bridge, which spans the Ogun River at the Lagos-Ogun boundary, has been the scene of repeated accidents in recent years. In October, at least six people, including a police inspector, were killed in a multi-vehicle crash involving several trucks, including a fuel tanker, on the bridge.
Eyewitnesses said one of the trucks veered off the road, crashed into the bridge’s brick barricade and was split apart, causing the truck’s head to plunge into the Ogun River. LASTMA confirmed that eight casualties were recorded in that incident but did not provide further details.
A video shared by the agency showed severely damaged trucks and lifeless bodies at the scene. LASTMA also disclosed that a towing van deployed to separate the vehicles was damaged during the rescue operation.
The accidents caused massive traffic congestion on the expressway, forcing some motorists to drive against traffic. Commercial drivers reportedly took advantage of the situation by hiking fares, charging between ₦2,000 and ₦2,500 for the Berger–Oshodi route, up from the usual ₦1,000 to ₦1,200.
The Kara Bridge crash occurred less than 24 hours after another truck accident on the Otedola Bridge, highlighting persistent safety concerns on one of Nigeria’s busiest transport corridors. Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps were also on ground to manage traffic and assist with vehicle recovery.
