Poor Road Condition, Ongoing Reconstruction Blamed For Ota-Idiroko Expressway Gridlock

The persistent traffic congestion along the Ota-Goro-Atan-Idiroko Expressway has been attributed mainly to the poor condition of the road and the slow pace of its ongoing reconstruction, residents and motorists have said.

The Federal Government awarded the reconstruction of the highway in 2023, but several sections remain under construction, forcing motorists to navigate narrow and damaged portions of the road that have become major traffic bottlenecks.

Daily commuters along the corridor said the prolonged construction has resulted in hours of gridlock, increased transport fares and significant economic hardship.

While residents initially welcomed the reconstruction project, many said the slow pace of work has diminished confidence in its timely completion.

Some also raised concerns about the drainage system being constructed, describing parts of it as too shallow for a major highway and warning that it could contribute to flooding and further damage to the road.

They urged the Federal Ministry of Works to intensify supervision of the project and called on the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to conduct regular inspections to ensure the contractor adheres to approved specifications and completes the project on schedule.

Although construction work on the Oju Ore and Winners flyovers has recorded visible progress, residents maintained that other sections of the expressway require greater urgency due to the road’s strategic importance.

The Ota-Atan-Idiroko Expressway serves as a major economic corridor linking Ogun State with the Republic of Benin and carries heavy commercial and cross-border traffic daily.

Residents also dismissed claims that the gridlock was primarily caused by the activities of non-state actors, including smugglers, insisting that the poor state of the road and ongoing reconstruction remain the major causes of the congestion.

A resident of Atan, Kolade Balogun, called on the government to expedite the project, recalling that heavy rainfall recently left commuters stranded for several hours.

“During last week’s downpour, economic activities were disrupted because people could not reach their destinations. We spent several hours in traffic due to the poor condition of the road,” he said.

Also speaking, commercial bus driver Ibrahim Saheed blamed frequent vehicle breakdowns, particularly around the Goro axis, for worsening the traffic situation.

“It is always one broken-down vehicle or another, especially around Goro. Last week, I spent more than six hours in traffic after trucks from the Agbara Industrial Estate broke down. I only managed to work for half a day because the gridlock was so severe,” he said.