A truck accident near Kara Bridge on Wednesday caused serious traffic jams on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Many drivers heading from Lagos to Ogun State were stuck for hours.
PUNCH Metro reported that the traffic jam lasted until about 12pm. Motorists found it hard to reach their destinations.
While traffic coming into Lagos moved smoothly, those going towards Magboro, Ibafo, and Mowe faced long delays. The queues stretched close to the Lagos State Secretariat as officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority worked hard to clear the road and get traffic moving again.
In an update on its official X page, LASTMA said they had to stop cars temporarily. This was to allow recovery teams to safely clear the accident site.
"The traffic backlog has stretched to New Garage and beyond, causing delays for motorists travelling towards Ogun State," the agency said.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency shared more details. Afolabi Olawale, Head of Public Affairs, said the accident happened around 3 a.m. A 40-foot trailer loaded with bags of flour overturned after hitting the side rail of Kara Bridge.
The statement said, "Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident was caused by overloading, which resulted in the driver losing control of the vehicle.
"No loss of life was recorded. However, the driver sustained severe injuries and was immediately evacuated to the nearest hospital by officers of the Nigeria Police Force for medical attention."
The agency took quick action to manage the situation. They transferred the cargo into another trailer while two private towing trucks helped recover the overturned truck. The truck's wheels were badly damaged, so they will need a heavy-duty crane for final removal. The truck has been moved to a safe spot for now.
Once the cargo transfer was done, TRACE officials took over the scene. LASTMA and the Nigeria Police Force worked together to manage traffic and reduce the congestion.
Responding agencies included LASEMA LRT, LASTMA, FRSC, TRACE, and the Nigeria Police Force. The operation has been completed, and the LRT team has returned to their base.
Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, praised the agencies for their quick and professional response. He said this helped prevent the situation from getting worse.
He also urged haulage operators to follow load limits and road safety rules. He advised residents to check and maintain their electrical installations, especially prepaid meters, to avoid fire outbreaks caused by electrical surges.
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