Hundreds of motorists and commuters plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway groaned in frustration on Wednesday as they were stuck in gridlock caused by a trailer accident at the Isheri-Oke end of the expressway.
The accident, which occurred around 5.30am, reportedly happened after the trailer fell into a pothole on the road.
According to PUNCH Metro, the accident obstructed free flow of traffic for hours, as many people, who were stranded at bus stops, trekked to their various destinations.
The trailer driver told our correspondent that he lost control of the vehicle when one of his tires burst after entering the pothole.
He said, “The accident happened around 5.45am. I was on my way to deliver cartons of biscuits in Taraba State when I drove into the pothole. My tire burst and I lost control of the vehicle. I thank God that I am alive.”
A trader, Oluwadamilare Qaudri, said she had spent over two hours in the gridlock.
She said, “I am heading for Berger, from where I intend to board a bus to Ibadan, Oyo State. But the traffic has been terrible. I have spent almost two hours inside the bus just to get to Berger from Ketu.”
Our correspondent also gathered that some vehicles developed mechanical faults on the road, which worsened the gridlock.
A motorist, Aladeotan Modioluwamu, who claimed to have been in the gridlock for five hours, said, “my car broke down. After I repaired it, I still joined the traffic.”
An electrical contractor, Wasiu Olunloyo, appealed to the Federal Government to repair the road to avert tragedy.
The 53-year-old said, “We have a lot of potholes on the road; it will not cost the government anything to repair the road. But they have refused to do that. I appeal to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency to be up and doing and save us this agony.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said the traffic unit of the command was mobilised to the scene to regulate the traffic.
He said, “As soon as we heard about the accident, we mobilised our traffic unit to the scene to create a corridor for other vehicles to pass. To ensure speedy removal of the fallen truck, we also contacted the relevant agencies. We have commenced investigation to find out the cause of the accident.”
The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Adedamola Kuti, said users of the road had been advised to drive with caution because the road was undergoing rehabilitation.
He said, “I am aware that there was an accident, but I cannot say precisely what caused it. Nigerians are aware that the road is under construction and we have always asked people to drive with caution. We are putting measures in place to ensure that the road is rehabilitated.”
Meanwhile, Lagos residents plying the Ikorodu Road have appealed to the state government to carry out urgent repairs on the Mile 12, Kosofe end of the road.
Our correspondent gathered that commuters and motorists using the road usually endured long hours of traffic.
A commuter, Omowunmi Adekoya, said she once spent four hours on the road for a distance that usually took few minutes.
An automobile mechanic, Olamilekan Adebanjo, 28, added that when commuters were fed up with the gridlock, they usually risked their lives by boarding motorcycles to their destinations.
“I do sell drinks at Ojota and I pass the Ikorodu Road to Ojota every day. The traffic is really affecting my business; I don’t meet my target because I do not get to the market early. I want the government to patch the pothole because it is affecting us,” a trader, Olukoga Mojisola, said.
The Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Tunji Bakare, had yet to respond to enquiries from our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
Source: Punch