A series of devastating accidents, including a major tanker explosion, turned Wednesday into a Black Wednesday for thousands of commuters on the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
At least five lives were lost and many more sustained injuries, while the incidents triggered massive gridlock, leaving countless travelers stranded for several hours.
The most severe incident involved a multiple-vehicle crash near the Car Park C section of the expressway, in the Mowe area of Ogun State.
According to Mrs. Florence Okpe, Public Education Officer for the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the fatal collision occurred when a Howo truck, reportedly due to brake failure and excessive speeding, lost control and rammed into a yellow Mazda commercial bus that was attempting to turn.
“The crash involved two vehicles: A Yellow Mazda Bus with registration number LGB465XA and an Ash Howo Truck with no registration number,” Okpe stated.
“A total of 12 passengers were involved. Tragically, five persons, comprising two male adults and three female adults, lost their lives. Seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries.”
The injured victims were promptly taken to Famobis Hospital, Mowe, while the deceased were deposited at Idera Morgue.
Compounding the chaos, a petrol-laden tanker overturned and exploded near the NASFAT Islamic Centre along the same expressway.
The incident, which occurred earlier in the day, sent thick plumes of black smoke into the sky, engulfing several vehicles in flames and causing widespread panic.
While initial reports did not immediately confirm casualties from this specific tanker explosion, emergency responders from the FRSC, Ogun State Fire Service, and other agencies swiftly mobilized to manage the scene and prevent further escalation.
The combined effect of these incidents led to an unprecedented gridlock, stretching for several kilometers on both inbound and outbound lanes of the expressway.
Commuters reported being stuck for over eight hours, with traffic extending from NASFAT U-turn to Arepo on the outward Lagos section, and between NASFAT U-turn and RCCG Car Park C on the inward Lagos section.
Authorities have advised motorists to seek alternative routes where possible and exercise extreme caution when navigating the affected areas. Emergency services are working tirelessly to clear the wreckage and restore normal traffic flow. The recurring nature of such fatal accidents on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway underscores the critical need for enhanced road safety measures, stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, and expedited completion of ongoing road infrastructure projects.
