One person has been confirmed dead following multiple crashes on the Otedola Bridge in Lagos in the early hours of Friday, triggering a massive traffic gridlock that left thousands of commuters and motorists stranded.
The accidents occurred inward Secretariat along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, one of the city’s busiest corridors, effectively grounding movement on the highway for several hours.
According to traffic authorities, the primary incident involved a violent collision between two heavy-duty trailers—one loaded with sand and the other conveying granite—allegedly caused by a reckless contest for right of way.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the impact was severe, trapping the driver of the sand-laden trailer inside the wreckage.
“The forceful impact led to devastating consequences, resulting in the entrapment of the driver of the sand-laden trailer, who sustained fatal injuries and was later confirmed dead,” LASTMA said in a statement.
The agency added that emergency responders successfully extricated the trapped victim and handed him over to officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), who transported him to the General Hospital, Ikeja, where he was pronounced dead.
LASTMA, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed that the driver of the second trailer was rescued alive and escaped unhurt.
The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command confirmed that a secondary crash occurred shortly after the first accident due to the obstruction caused by the overturned truck.
“Two serious accidents have occurred at Otedola Bridge, inward Lagos. In the first incident, a fully loaded truck overturned, spilling its consignments and covering about 90 per cent of the carriageway,” the RRS said in a post.
“The second accident occurred directly behind the first crash, further compounding traffic disruption in the area. Emergency responders have been alerted, and motorists are advised to exercise caution,” it added.
Security operatives were deployed to the scene to provide adequate security, manage crowd control, and support ongoing rescue and recovery operations.
LASTMA noted that the combined impact of the crashes obstructed nearly 80 per cent of the carriageway, necessitating extensive traffic diversions.
“Motorists travelling inward Lagos from the Mowe, Kara Bridge and Redemption Camp axis were redirected through the Ojodu–Olole route, connecting Agidingbi, Coca-Cola, Secretariat and 7-Up, to enable continued movement towards Gbagada or Ojota with minimal inconvenience,” the agency said.
The incident adds to a growing list of fatal crashes on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, a major route linking Lagos to the South-South and South-East regions of the country.
On January 18, two commuters lost their lives in a multiple-vehicle crash on the Kara Bridge, inward Mowe axis of the expressway. Earlier, on October 30, 2025, six people—including a police officer—were killed in another multiple-truck accident involving a fuel tanker along the same corridor.
About the Author
