‎Fatal crash on Lagos–Ibadan expressway kills one, paralyses traffic

‎Lagos, Nigeria — A serious road accident early Friday morning, January 23, 2026, on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway has left at least one person dead and caused major traffic gridlock along one of Nigeria’s busiest highways.
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‎The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that a violent collision between two heavy-duty trucks occurred at the Otedola Bridge section of the expressway, inward Secretariat. One of the drivers, believed to be operating a sand-laden trailer, was trapped in the wreckage and later pronounced dead at Ikeja General Hospital.
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‎According to LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs, the crash involved a trailer loaded with sand and another carrying granite. The impact reportedly unfolded during a reckless contest for right of way between the large vehicles, leading to a forceful collision and severe disruption of traffic.
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‎A secondary collision near the initial crash site further compounded the situation, obstructing up to 80 % of the carriageway, officials said.
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‎Motorists travelling inward Lagos from areas including Mowe, Kara Bridge and Redemption Camp experienced extensive delays, with long queues of vehicles stretching for kilometres. Road users reported abandoning vehicles and trekking to escape the gridlock as traffic slowed to a crawl.
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‎Security operatives from the Alausa Police Division were deployed to support rescue and recovery operations, manage crowd control, and direct traffic, while diversion routes were activated to ease congestion.
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‎Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) cited ongoing repair work on the Kara Bridge expansion joints as a contributing factor to the extended gridlock. FRSC personnel, LASTMA teams and other agencies remain on the scene working to clear the wreckage and restore normal traffic flow.
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‎Commuters described the ordeal as “hellish,” with some reporting hours-long delays and resorting to driving against traffic to reach their destinations.
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‎Authorities have urged drivers to exercise patience and adhere to traffic guidelines as recovery efforts continue.