The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on the stretch of Kara Bridge and beyond is currently on lockdown following a multiple-vehicle crash in the early hours of Wednesday.
The incident, involving trucks, claimed the life of an unidentified adult male.
As a result, numerous motorists are trapped in the gridlock.
According to eyewitnesses, the crash occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m. outward Lagos, completely paralysing vehicular and pedestrian activities in the area.
Emergency responders, including personnel from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), are on the scene working to restore normalcy.
The accident involved a truck with an unidentifiable registration number, carrying several rolls of steel coils, and a 40-foot container whose head detached as a result of the crash. This caused a complete obstruction of vehicular movement in both directions on the expressway.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who is also present at the scene, advised motorists to use alternative routes such as Ikorodu Road, Sagamu Road, and the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway while recovery operations continue.
Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu explained, “Investigation conducted by the agency’s response team revealed that the articulated truck driver, in a bid to avoid collision with a 40-foot container on the road, lost control and overturned, discharging its cargo of steel coils onto the carriageway.”
“An unidentified adult male driver lost his life in the incident, and the body was removed before the arrival of the agency’s response team,” he added.
LASEMA’s response team is coordinating recovery efforts, including road diversions, to quickly evacuate the obstructions and restore traffic flow. Collaborative efforts are ongoing to clear the area.
Although the obstructions have been cleared and the road reopened to traffic, the residual backlog of vehicles is still causing delays as at the time of filing this report on Wednesday afternoon.