The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Sector Command, in collaboration with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), has advised motorists to avoid the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and use alternative routes following multiple road crashes that claimed one life and caused severe traffic congestion.
The incidents, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, left thousands of commuters stranded in long queues as emergency responders worked to clear the wreckage and restore the free flow of traffic.
According to the FRSC, the first crash happened at approximately 12:05 am on the outbound carriageway towards Ibadan. The accident involved five articulated trucks and a Toyota Sienna, resulting in one fatality and one injury.
Preliminary investigations by the corps attributed the crash to speed violation and loss of vehicle control.
A total of seven adult males were involved in the accident. One person lost his life, another sustained injuries, while five others escaped unharmed.
The FRSC disclosed that the deceased became trapped beneath one of the heavily loaded trucks, requiring the deployment of heavy-duty recovery equipment to retrieve the body.
While rescue and recovery operations were still in progress, another accident occurred at about 3:15 am on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos.
The second incident involved a Mazda commercial bus in what the FRSC described as a lone crash caused by brake failure.
The driver sustained serious injuries and was rescued by emergency personnel before being transported to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for medical treatment.
Emergency responders from the FRSC, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), LASTMA and other relevant agencies have since been working to remove the damaged vehicles, recover the trapped victim, clear the obstruction and restore normal traffic movement along the expressway.
Motorists Advised to Use Alternative Routes
Reacting to the incidents, the Lagos Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, and the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
They appealed to motorists to remain calm, cooperate with traffic officials and avoid the Kara-Ojodu Berger axis until recovery operations are completed.
To ease congestion, the agencies recommended the following alternative routes:
- Outbound to Ibadan: Ikorodu–Sagamu Road.
- Inbound to Lagos: Lekki–Epe Expressway or Ikorodu–Sagamu Expressway.
The FRSC also urged motorists, particularly operators of articulated trucks and commercial buses, to ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition before embarking on journeys, with special attention given to braking systems.
The corps further cautioned against unnecessary night travel, noting that poor visibility, rainfall and fog significantly increase the risk of road accidents.
“Where night travel is unavoidable, drivers are advised to reduce speed, maintain safe distances, avoid dangerous overtaking, and rest when fatigued.
“The FRSC remains committed to ensuring the safety of all road users and will continue to work with relevant emergency and traffic management agencies to restore normalcy as quickly as possible,” the statement said.
