TRACE Intervenes To Stem Illegal Parking, Road Blockade, Driver Unrest On Lagos–Ibadan Expressway
OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
Traffic on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway was thrown into chaos between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning after an enforcement operation against illegally parked trucks escalated into a major blockade by aggrieved articulated vehicle drivers.
The incident occurred along the Ogere–Sapade axis, a section of the highway notorious for persistent disorderliness caused by trailer drivers who routinely convert the expressway into an illegal parking zone, despite access to more than a dozen designated trailer parks operated by both government and private entities.
According to enforcement officials, a joint task force comprising operatives of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), the Nigerian Army, the Police and transport unions had embarked on a midnight operation to clear trailers that had occupied double lanes of the expressway, narrowing the corridor and endangering motorists. The illegal parking, authorities said, has long contributed to recurring traffic congestion and avoidable accidents in the area.
During the operation, three trucks were impounded, including a Dangote cement truck. TRACE officials reported that one of the affected drivers returned to the task force office at about 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, demanding immediate release of his truck. Officers said he was informed that proper documentation and sensitisation procedures—scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m.—needed to be completed before release.
The driver, however, allegedly became unruly and left the office “spitting fire,” before mobilising other Dangote truck drivers to obstruct the highway in protest. The coordinated blockade triggered a prolonged gridlock that stretched across the Ogere and Sagamu corridors, leaving thousands of motorists stranded and significantly extending travel time on the busy route.
Security operatives and senior government officials, including Ogun State Commissioner of Police CP Lanre Ogunnowo, the Seriki Hausawa of Ogere, and the most Senior Officer in TRACE, Cdr. Omonayajo Elias, later intervened to restore order. To de-escalate the brewing tension, authorities ordered the immediate release of all impounded trucks, which were subsequently handed over to transport union representatives including Seriki Hausawa and other recognised leaders.
By midday Wednesday, normalcy had begun to return, though vehicular movement remained slow as officials worked to clear the backlog of traffic that had built up over several hours.
TRACE reiterated that the enforcement operation was part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the Ogere–Sapade corridor, especially during the peak of the ember months when road traffic incidents typically surge. The agency warned that illegal parking by articulated vehicle drivers endangers lives and will continue to be met with strict enforcement.
Fleet operators and truck drivers were urged to comply with traffic regulations and utilise approved parks and holding bays to ensure the free flow of traffic along the key national route.
