Lagos Urges Patience As Kara Bridge Repairs, Truck Incident Trigger Gridlock
AYÓMIDE TIWATAYO, Lagos
The Lagos State Government has appealed to motorists to remain patient as severe traffic congestion persists along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway following the evacuation of a fallen tanker and ongoing rehabilitation works at the Kara Bridge.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, said on Wednesday that the disabled tanker had been successfully removed by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), but warned that the situation had been exacerbated by motorists driving against traffic in an attempt to bypass the congestion.
Musa said the government had deployed additional traffic management personnel to the affected corridor to improve traffic flow and minimise delays. He added that the Ministry was working closely with the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), and LASTMA to ease the gridlock and restore normal vehicular movement.
He acknowledged that the rehabilitation of the Kara Bridge was causing temporary inconvenience but stressed that the project was necessary to preserve the critical transport infrastructure and ensure the long-term safety, functionality and resilience of the busy corridor.
“The rehabilitation work will be completed soon,” Musa assured.
Also speaking, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki said the agency’s personnel had been working round the clock to manage traffic and improve movement along the expressway.
He urged motorists to remain calm and refrain from driving against traffic, warning that such violations worsen congestion and pose serious safety risks.
Bakare-Oki said LASTMA would continue its public awareness campaign aimed at promoting voluntary compliance with traffic regulations and encouraging responsible road use.
To reduce pressure on the Kara Bridge corridor, he advised motorists to consider alternative routes. According to him, road users can travel through the Ikorodu Garage–Ogijo–Sagamu route, linking through Lotto to the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, while those heading towards Lagos and neighbouring destinations may use the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway.
Motorists travelling to Ijebu-Ode were also advised to use the Ikorodu–Ijebu-Ode route to improve traffic distribution and avoid the most congested sections of the expressway.
The state government further urged motorists to plan their journeys in advance, familiarise themselves with the recommended diversion routes, and comply with the directives of accredited traffic management officers.
It also encouraged members of the public to report traffic-related emergencies through the state’s 3367 toll-free traffic hotline for prompt response.
