An early morning accident on Otedola Bridge on Friday caught many Lagos commuters off guard. A fully loaded truck overturned before dawn, bringing traffic to a near standstill on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
As a result, thousands of motorists heading into Lagos were left stranded in gridlock.
According to reports, the accident occurred in the early hours of Friday, January 23. The truck reportedly lost balance and fell across the roadway, blocking most of the bridge.
Moreover, the incident quickly disrupted traffic flow at one of Lagos’ busiest entry points.
Confirming the situation, the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command issued a statement online. In a Facebook post, the police revealed that the situation worsened after a second crash.
The post stated, “Two serious accidents have occurred at Otedola Bridge, inward Lagos.”
The statement further explained the scale of the disruption caused by the first crash.
“In the first incident, a fully loaded truck overturned, spilling its consignments onto the road and covering about 90 per cent of the carriageway.”
However, the situation did not end there, as another vehicle crashed behind the truck.
According to the police, “The second accident occurred directly behind the first crash, compounding traffic disruption in the area.”
Therefore, traffic built up rapidly, stretching from Otedola Bridge all the way to Berger. Many motorists were forced to abandon the route and search for alternative roads.
Meanwhile, emergency responders were alerted shortly after the accidents occurred. Security operatives and traffic officials moved in to prevent further incidents.
Motorists were also warned to slow down and exercise caution around the bridge. Confirming the response efforts, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority officials arrived at the scene.
LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq said officers were deployed immediately. He noted that traffic control and rescue operations were ongoing to ease the congestion.
In addition, residents have renewed calls for stricter safety checks on trucks using major highways. Furthermore, as of the time of reporting, clearance operations were still ongoing.
