14-Hour Nightmare: Motorists Stranded in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Gridlock

Motorists have spent up to 14 hours trapped in gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after a seven-vehicle crash at Kara Bridge caused traffic to back up for several kilometres.

The crash, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, left commuters travelling between Lagos and Ogun State stranded overnight as the resulting congestion spread along the busy corridor.

Several motorists reported spending between six and 14 hours in traffic, with some unable to complete journeys that would normally take considerably less time.

The worst-affected motorists included those travelling from the Ojota and Berger areas towards Mowe, Ibafo and other parts of Ogun State.

The situation was further complicated by repair work on the bridge, which had already reduced the available space for vehicles. The crash added another obstruction, making movement through the affected section particularly difficult.

One motorist said a journey expected to take about 20 to 30 minutes had stretched to nine hours, with the vehicle still caught in the congestion.

Another commuter said she had been trapped around Berger from about 8 p.m. on Tuesday and remained in traffic the following day.

Videos shared by affected road users showed long queues of vehicles stretching along the expressway, with motorists largely unable to make meaningful progress.

The gridlock also affected traffic around the Long Bridge, Magboro and sections of the route leading towards Mowe and Ibafo.

Some motorists reportedly attempted to drive against the flow of traffic in an effort to escape the congestion. However, the move further complicated the situation by restricting available space for vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.

Commuters who had begun their journeys on Tuesday evening, the traffic extended well into Wednesday, forcing some to spend the night on the expressway.

The combination of the seven-vehicle crash and the existing restriction caused by bridge repairs left motorists with few opportunities to bypass the affected area.

Road users continued to share updates from the expressway on Wednesday as the congestion persisted, documenting the long queues and delays along different sections of the corridor.