Reported By Ariajegbe Esezobor Sylvia
A multiple-vehicle crash at Otedola Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday afternoon ended without a single fatality, as emergency responders successfully rescued all trapped victims alive, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed.
The crash, which occurred at about 1:18 p.m. at Otedola, just before the bridge inward Berger, involved five vehicles, including a truck carrying a generator, a containerised truck with registration number ENU 135ZG, a loaded trailer with an unknown registration number, a white Honda with registration number LSR 870BF and a Lexus with registration number KTU 682HX. Preliminary findings by LASEMA indicated that the containerised truck developed a mechanical fault while in motion, lost control and rammed into three other vehicles, before another truck crashed into them from behind. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority initially reported that three trucks and a car were involved, while LASEMA's later assessment confirmed five vehicles in total.
LASEMA said its LRT Tiger Squad stationed at C3 was dispatched at 1:18 p.m. after receiving a distress call and arrived at the scene ten minutes later. The agency activated its emergency response protocol and took coordination of the scene, working alongside LASTMA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Lagos State Ambulance Service. One victim trapped inside a truck was rescued through a joint operation involving all four agencies. LASEMA confirmed that all trapped victims were rescued alive and received first aid at the scene before being taken to the Trauma Centre for further treatment. No death was recorded, though some of those involved sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The Lagos State Police Command provided a further update on its X handle at 4:26 p.m., confirming that five individuals had been successfully rescued with no fatality recorded as of that time, while evacuation of the vehicles involved was ongoing. By 5:52 p.m., the command announced that free flow of traffic had been restored on the road, urging motorists to exercise caution while using the route and cooperate with security agencies as normal traffic flow resumed. The road has now reopened to traffic.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, commended the response teams and other agencies involved in the rescue operation. He urged motorists, particularly drivers of heavy-duty and articulated vehicles, to maintain their vehicles regularly, obey road safety regulations and exercise caution on major highways. LASEMA also urged residents to report emergencies promptly through the 767 or 112 toll-free emergency lines.
The crash added fresh pressure to an already severely congested corridor. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been under additional strain since the Federal Government commenced repairs on the expansion joints at Kara Bridge on September 8, reducing available road space as work is carried out on sections of the bridge. On Tuesday, a separate multiple-vehicle accident at Kara Bridge, involving seven vehicles and a 40-foot container-laden truck that reportedly suffered a mechanical fault, compounded delays already caused by the ongoing repair works. The resulting congestion stretched beyond the Long Bridge towards Magboro and into Lagos, leaving motorists and commuters stranded for several hours.
By Wednesday morning, commuters were still battling the aftermath of that gridlock. One transporter, Ibrahim, described the situation as very serious, particularly between Mowe and Berger. From Mowe to Berger now, two passengers is 8,000 Naira, he said, referring to his motorcycle fare. Another commuter said he had been stuck for about two hours after leaving Bagada around 6:30 a.m., adding that he had resorted to trekking after failing to get a bus. Some drivers are sleeping on the side because there is no movement, he said. A separate commuter, who was travelling to Aba, said the congestion had forced him to spend the night in his vehicle. In Ikeja, we slept there since 3 a.m. We slept there till this morning, he said. Another motorist said he entered the traffic from Apapa at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday and remained trapped for hours.
The latest Otedola crash had now added another obstruction to the already congested corridor. Arise News Correspondent Tochukwu Ilodigwe, who reported from the scene, said some people remained trapped in the vehicles after the accident. What we had was another accident involving at least three articulated vehicles and a smaller car. Many people are still trapped in this accident. Human beings are still trapped there. He said the driver and motor boy of one of the trucks were among those trapped, while ambulances and emergency personnel were at the scene. Ilodigwe said the accident had further worsened traffic in the area, with authorities working to open one lane of the road. He also reported that Lagos authorities, including LASTMA and police, responded shortly after the accident. The LASMA and the police and other agencies quickly responded in time, unlike what we had yesterday. According to the correspondent, the major challenge was removing the three articulated vehicles because they were carrying heavy goods. You will need very heavy trucks to move them off the road. So they are doing the best they can. But the situation is quite there, that, you know, it's not something you can quickly do. Ilodigwe said vehicles capable of removing the trucks were being brought to the scene. He added that the emergency response had been faster than the response witnessed during the traffic situation around Kara Bridge on Tuesday.
Recovery operations continued into the evening with the support of private towing trucks and a crane to remove the damaged vehicles and restore normal traffic flow. The Lagos State Police Command later confirmed that the Otedola Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway had reopened to traffic hours after the crash. The road is now open. The Command urges motorists to exercise caution while using the route and cooperate with security agencies as normal traffic flow resumes.
Wednesday's crash serves as a reminder of the persistent dangers on one of Nigeria's busiest highways. Otedola Bridge has been the scene of multiple serious accidents in recent years, including a tanker explosion that claimed several lives. The combination of heavy vehicular traffic, poorly maintained articulated vehicles and ongoing road repairs has created conditions that demand constant vigilance from both drivers and emergency responders. For the five victims rescued alive on Wednesday, the swift and coordinated response of LASEMA, LASTMA, the FRSC, the Police and LASAMBUS made the difference between a tragic outcome and a story of survival.
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