Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as Muslims, others travel for Sallah

It was a tough day for motorists and commuters, as both ends of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were grounded by traffic on Saturday.

Although it is not uncommon for the Expressway to be this way since the reconstruction of the Long Bridge axis of the highway commenced in 2021, Sunday PUNCH gathered that the situation was compounded by travellers who were travelling to different towns to celebrate Sallah.

Wary faces, hungry women, crying children and trekking feet lined the sidewalks, as the sun blasted at its apex.

A young mother donning a hijab and strapped a baby on her bag dragged her two kids across the Berger Bus Stop overhead bridge to the other side in search of a bus going to the Mowe-Ibafo axis.

For hours, our correspondent who monitored the situation at the bus stop saw first-hand that no bus was headed in that direction because of the terrible traffic situation.

The mother, who gave her name only as Halima said she was coming from Ojota and was headed for Ibadan to celebrate the Sallah.

“I am exhausted. I have been standing at Berger for more than two hours and have not seen a bus to take me and my kids to Mowe so we can find our way to Ibadan from there. The ones that have come call exorbitant amounts and end up not going when they see the traffic ahead.

“My daughters have been crying. I am frustrated. I feel like going back home but even the other end of the road is also blocked because of people taking ‘one way’ (driving against traffic).”

She also lamented that transport fares have tripled, stating that the motorists have inflated the prices to make more gain.

“Yesterday, I went to Arepo to see my younger sister who is unwell, and I paid N300 from Berger. Today (Saturday), the bus drivers are demanding N1500. “That is more than a 300 per cent increment from yesterday’s fare, and I am not even prepared for that.

“I have budgeted myself on how much will take me to Ibadan, and I can’t spend everything on just Berger to Mowe. I am sincerely tired,” she said.

Another woman who looked pregnant sat on the pavement of the Berger Bus Stop. She had her left hand on her chin and she looked really tired.

When asked how long she had been at the bus stop, she said, “I got here by 2.12 pm and I am still here till now. Look at the time; it is past 4 pm. Any bus that comes will say N1500 or N1200. Where will I get that money from? I am just going to Warewa.”

She said she went to church at Obalende and took a bus to Iyana Oworo. Her trouble started when she could not get a bus from Iyana Oworo straight to Wawa and she decided to cut the journey by first going to Berger.

She still could not get a bus going to Berger, as the traffic on the Expressway had, somehow, got to parts of the Third Mainland Bridge.

 “I had to trek in my condition to 7Up Bus Stop. You can imagine that distance. Take a look at the road; many people are trekking. It is frustrating,” she lamented.

Root cause

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a critical artery connecting Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling commercial hub, to the rest of the country, has become synonymous with exasperating traffic snarls.

This vital 127.6 km route, crucial for commerce and daily commutes, frequently grinds to a standstill, causing significant delays and frustrations for motorists and commuters alike.

Several factors contribute to the chronic traffic congestion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Firstly, the ongoing road reconstruction and expansion projects, although necessary for long-term improvement, have been a major cause of current delays.

The construction work has resulted in narrowed lanes and occasional closures, significantly slowing down traffic flow.

Secondly, the sheer volume of vehicles plying the route daily is overwhelming. This was the reason for Saturday’s traffic that ground the road to a complete halt.

The expressway serves not only as a connection between Lagos and Ibadan but also as a major route for travellers heading to other parts of Nigeria.

The high traffic volume, particularly during peak hours and festive seasons, exacerbates the congestion.

Thirdly, frequent accidents and breakdowns contribute to traffic woes.

The expressway sees a high incidence of vehicular accidents, which often lead to lane blockages and prolonged traffic jams.

Inadequate response times from emergency services further compound the problem.

Stuck for hours

Our correspondent, who took a motorbike from 7Up, headed for Berger was stuck in the traffic for over one hour, as a truck broke down around the Otedola Bridge, compounding the traffic situation.

The truck, laden with a caravan, developed some fault while in motion and came to a screeching halt, according to eyewitnesses.

“The incident happened around 2.42 pm or so. I was behind a bus when we saw that the truck could not move again. It just got stuck. It blocked a significant part of the road, and motorists had to manage just one lane,” a passenger in a bus, Mrs Agnes Tobechukwu, told our correspondent.

Another passenger, lamenting the situation, said he had been in the traffic for over two hours, stressing that he regrets making the journey.

“I am going to Abeokuta, Ogun State, for the Sallah holiday, and I am already exhausted. My journey has not even started.

“The government needs to put traffic officers on the road to help control the free flow on the road. It is frustrating to see everyone manoeuvring one another to get ahead.

Motorists groan

Several motorists who spoke to our correspondent lamented that they have spent more on fuel because of how long the journeys took.

A commercial motor driver, Mr Ndubuisi Iheanacho, told our correspondent that if his tank was half full, he would drive from Oshodi to Berger and even down to Mowe and back to Berger before he would think of topping up his tank.

However, because of the traffic, he said he had spent almost double on fuel purchases.

“I had no choice but to increase the transport fare. Normally, I will collect N200 to Berger. But, I had to collect N500 because there was nothing else I could do. I will have to buy fuel on the Expressway before making another journey. I have been at the particular spot for more than 50 minutes and it is fuel I am burning. We need to understand that. Let the passenger also bear with us,” he said.

Trekking galore

Our correspondent also observed that many people took their destinies into their hands and set out on foot.

Some carrying bags on their heads, dragging children who strutted along, walking in one straight line on the Expressway.

Speaking, a man who refused to give his name, said that he decided to trek to his home in Warewa when he heard that it would cost him N1500 to get there on a bus.

“I usually trek to the New Garage area of Berger and join a bus for N200 to my bus stop. How can I pay N1500? I am a construction worker. My entire pay for today after work was N3700. Will I not eat? My brother, I am tired abeg,” he said, as he walked briskly with his bag of tools in his right hand.

A woman carrying a heavy load on her head and sweating profusely was also seen trekking on the Expressway.

She said she was heading for the Opic Estate and no bus was willing to go to the area.

“I will soon get there. It is just a minor inconvenience; I will get home. I cannot pay N500 to get to Opic from Berger. That journey is not worth more than N100 with all the fuel increment,” she said.

Sallah

As Nigeria gears up for the Sallah celebrations scheduled for Sunday, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a key route for many travellers heading to their hometowns, has once again become a bottleneck, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and frustrated.

The festive rush has exacerbated the already notorious traffic situation on this vital thoroughfare, creating a logistical nightmare for commuters and highlighting the persistent challenges associated with one of Nigeria’s busiest highways.

The Sallah celebrations, also known as Eid al-Adha, are a time for family reunions and communal festivities, prompting a massive exodus from major urban centres like Lagos.

This year, the surge in travel has significantly intensified the traffic congestion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The route, which is already burdened by ongoing construction projects and high daily vehicle volumes, has been overwhelmed by the sudden influx of travellers.

Reports indicate that many passengers have been stuck in gridlock for hours, with some journeys that typically take a few hours now extending into the night.

The situation is dire, with vehicles barely moving and long lines of frustrated commuters stretching for miles.

The gridlock has not only delayed travel plans but also exposed the inadequacies in traffic management and infrastructure readiness to handle such festive surges.

For many travellers, the experience has been nothing short of harrowing.

Families, eager to celebrate Sallah with their loved ones, have found themselves stuck in interminable traffic jams. The heat, lack of restrooms, and scarcity of food and water along the route have added to their woes.

Solutions

A social commentator, Mrs Adetutu Sosore, said addressing the traffic problem on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway requires a multi-faceted approach.

She noted that the ongoing road expansion and construction projects are a step in the right direction, aimed at increasing the capacity of the expressway to handle more vehicles.

However, according to her, the government needs to ensure that these projects are completed promptly to minimise disruption.

She said, “Improving traffic management is another crucial aspect. Enhanced traffic control measures, such as better signage, more traffic officers, and the use of technology for real-time traffic monitoring, can help manage the flow of vehicles more efficiently. The introduction of more rest stops and emergency response units along the expressway can also help address breakdowns and accidents more swiftly.”

Another public commentator and sociologist expert, Dr Tunji Akintoye, said, “The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway remains a critical infrastructure project for Nigeria, but its current state of incessant traffic congestion is untenable.

“While the government is taking steps to address the issue through road expansion and construction, more immediate measures are needed to manage the existing traffic effectively.”

FRSC speaks

In response to the worsening traffic situation, the Federal Road Safety Corps said it had ramped up its efforts to control the flow of vehicles.

Its spokesperson, Florence Okpe, said additional traffic officers had been deployed along the expressway to manage the situation, but their efforts were hampered by the sheer volume of cars and the limited road capacity.

She also blamed ram buyers on the Kara end of the expressway for compounding the situation.

“We urge motorists to exercise patience and adhere to traffic regulations to help ease the congestion. Travellers should also consider alternative routes where possible,” she said.