Commuters and motorists faced a harrowing experience on Tuesday as a severe traffic gridlock crippled movement along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, forcing many to abandon vehicles and trek long distances.
The congestion, which lasted for several hours, was attributed to ongoing rehabilitation work on damaged sections of the highway, particularly near the Guru Maharaj Ji Village and surrounding areas. Construction activity by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) had restricted vehicular flow to a single lane, leading to a major traffic buildup.
Frustrated passengers were seen trekking for miles in the intense heat, while commercial transporters and private motorists expressed dismay over the time lost in the gridlock.
Some drivers reported being stuck in the same spot for over four hours. “This road has been like this for months. Why is it now—just days before the Sallah celebration—that they are trying to fix it?” one aggrieved motorist asked. “They should have anticipated increased traffic and planned better.”
Another commuter, who left Lagos for Ibadan at 10:23 a.m., said he was still caught in traffic by 4 p.m. with no sign of progress. “There is no hope in sight,” he said. “Our leaders don’t use this road, so they don’t care how bad it gets.”
The Ibadan-Lagos highway is a key route connecting the commercial capital to southwestern Nigeria and remains one of the busiest highways in the country. With Sallah festivities approaching, travelers fear that the situation could worsen without urgent intervention.
Many are calling on both the Federal Ministry of Works and the contractors to improve traffic management around construction zones and provide realistic timelines for road users.
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