The Lagos State Government has appealed to motorists to exercise patience following severe traffic congestion along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway caused by a fallen truck and ongoing rehabilitation work at the Kara Bridge.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, said on Wednesday that the fallen truck had been evacuated by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). He, however, attributed part of the worsening congestion to motorists driving against traffic.
Musa said additional traffic officers had been deployed to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor to manage the situation and improve traffic flow. He added that the ministry was working with the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) and LASTMA to ease the congestion.
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged that the ongoing rehabilitation of the Kara Bridge could cause temporary inconvenience but said the work was necessary to preserve the critical transport corridor and ensure its long-term safety and functionality. He assured motorists that the rehabilitation would be completed soon.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said officials were working round the clock to improve traffic movement. He urged motorists to remain patient, obey traffic regulations and avoid driving against traffic when faced with road obstructions.
Bakare-Oki also advised motorists to consider alternative routes, including the Ikorodu Garage–Ogijo–Sagamu route through Lotto to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway for travellers heading towards Lagos and adjoining destinations.
Motorists heading towards Ijebu-Ode were advised to use the Ikorodu–Ijebu-Ode route to reduce pressure on the Kara Bridge corridor.
The state government urged motorists to plan their journeys, familiarise themselves with alternative routes and comply with directives from accredited traffic management personnel. Members of the public can also call 3367 to report traffic-related issues for prompt intervention.
