Juliet Oladele, Reporting
A driver was rescued after being trapped inside a truck following a multi-vehicle collision on Otedola Bridge on Wednesday, worsening an already dire traffic situation on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The crash, which occurred just before the bridge inward Berger, involved three trucks and two other vehicles, according to officials at the scene. No fatalities were reported, though several people sustained injuries of varying severity.
One victim, trapped inside a truck, was freed through a joint operation involving the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Lagos State Ambulance Service.
LASTMA said its officers were deployed immediately for rescue, evacuation and traffic control, adding that the crash caused a backlog extending as far as the Toll Gate.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said its response team arrived at the scene at 1:28 p.m., just ten minutes after receiving a distress call.
According to LASEMA, five vehicles were involved: a containerised truck, a loaded trailer, a truck carrying a generator, a white Honda and a Lexus.
Preliminary findings indicated that the containerised truck developed a mechanical fault while in motion, lost control and rammed into three vehicles, before another truck crashed into them from behind.
All trapped victims were rescued alive and received first aid at the scene before being taken to the Trauma Centre for further treatment.
Recovery operations were ongoing on Wednesday afternoon, with private towing trucks and a crane deployed to remove the damaged vehicles and restore the flow of traffic.
Gridlock Worsens
The fresh crash has deepened the severe congestion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which has persisted since Tuesday following a separate multiple-vehicle accident at Kara Bridge and ongoing repairs to the bridge’s expansion joints.
On Tuesday, a 40-foot container-laden truck crashed into several vehicles at Kara Bridge after reportedly suffering a mechanical fault. Seven vehicles were involved, compounding the disruption caused by the repair works.
The resulting congestion stretched beyond the Long Bridge towards Magboro and into Lagos, leaving motorists and commuters stranded for hours.
By Wednesday morning, commuters were still battling the aftermath. One transporter, Ibrahim, described the situation as “very, very serious”, particularly between Mowe and Berger.
“From Mowe to Berger now? Two persons is 8,000 Naira,” he said, referring to his motorcycle fare for two passengers.
Another commuter said he had been stuck for about two hours after leaving Bagada at around 6:30 a.m., adding that he had resorted to trekking after failing to secure a bus.
“Some drivers are sleeping on the side because there’s no movement,” he said.
A separate commuter travelling to Aba said the congestion had forced him to spend the night in his vehicle.
“In Ikeja, we slept there since 3 a.m. We slept there till this morning,” he said.
Another motorist said he entered the traffic from Apapa at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday and remained trapped for hours.
“I’ve been in this traffic since 10 o’clock in the night yesterday. I’m coming from Apapa. I entered the traffic at Anthony, around 10, maybe like 15 minutes after 10,” he said.
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been under additional pressure since the Federal Government commenced repairs on the expansion joints at Kara Bridge on September 8. The works have reduced available road space, with traffic management measures introduced to keep vehicles moving.
The latest Otedola crash has now added another obstruction to the already congested corridor, with motorists travelling towards Berger and the Lagos end of the expressway expected to face further delays as recovery operations continue.
Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution and cooperate with traffic management personnel at the affected sections.
