Lagos, Nigeria — 23 January 2026 – A series of serious road accidents on the Otedola Bridge, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, led to extensive traffic gridlock and at least one confirmed fatality in the early hours of Friday morning.
The first collision occurred inward towards Secretariat when two heavy-duty trailers, one laden with sand and the other carrying granite are reported to have collided amid a dispute for the right of way. The force of the impact trapped the driver of the sand-laden truck, who later died from his injuries after being extricated by rescue workers and transferred to the General Hospital in Ikeja.
In a cruel twist to the morning’s events, a second truck fully loaded with flour overturned about 50 metres from the initial crash site, spilling its cargo across the carriageway and further impeding the flow of traffic.
The combined accidents effectively blocked nearly 80 per cent of the expressway, leaving motorists stranded for hours and forcing authorities to implement extensive diversion measures. Drivers heading into Lagos from Mowe, Kara Bridge and Redemption Camp were redirected via the Ojodu–Olole route through Agidingbi, Coca-Cola, Secretariat, and 7-Up towards Gbagada or Ojota.
Emergency services, including the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), were deployed to secure the scene, manage the traffic disruption and carry out rescue and recovery operations.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, described the crashes as “deeply regrettable and largely preventable”, pointing to driver impatience and failure to yield as contributing factors. He urged greater adherence to road safety rules, particularly among operators of heavy-duty vehicles, and offered condolences to the family of the deceased.
The Otedola Bridge incident adds to a growing list of serious collisions on the vital Lagos–Ibadan corridor, which connects the commercial hub of Lagos to the South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria, highlighting ongoing challenges with road safety on the nation’s busiest highways.
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