Commuters and motorists endured harrowing experiences on Tuesday as a massive gridlock crippled movement on the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway for several hours.
The traffic snarl, which stretched across multiple kilometres, was attributed to the ongoing rehabilitation of severely damaged sections of the highway, particularly around the Guru Maharaj Ji Village and adjoining areas.
Vehicular movement was reduced to a single lane, leaving thousands of road users stranded and forcing many to abandon vehicles and trek long distances in sweltering heat.
Frustrated drivers and passengers expressed anger over the timing and execution of the road repairs, especially with the upcoming Sallah festivities expected to increase traffic volume.
“This road has been like this for months. Why wait until now to start fixing it?” a visibly upset motorist queried. “With just days to Sallah, they should have anticipated heavier traffic.”
Another commuter shared his ordeal: “I left Lagos for Ibadan at 10:23 am. It’s now 4 pm and I’m still stuck here. The authorities don’t seem to care because they don’t use this road.”
Many road users blamed the construction company, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), for failing to manage the rehabilitation work with consideration for public convenience.
As night approached, there was little sign of improvement, with commuters continuing to endure the hardship with no clear timeline for relief.