Lagos-Ibadan gridlock: FRSC advises road users to use alternative routes

Following a massive gridlock caused by a fuel-laden tanker that fell and spilt its content around the Ibafo area of Ogun State in the early hours of Sunday, the Federal Road Safety Commission has advised road users to explore alternative routes.

According to the commission, road users going into and out of Lagos are advised to explore routes, such as Ikorodu through Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode, and Epe for Lagos-bound vehicles and others to take Abeokuta through Sagamu Interchange as well as for Ibadan bound vehicles.

While assuring that the commission and other relevant agencies were on top of the situation, the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, in a statement on Sunday, said the content had been successfully trans-loaded and that men of the state fire service had proceeded to refill their water tank.

He attributed the gridlock to some impatient motorists who chose to drive against traffic, thereby affecting the free flow of traffic in all available exit routes.

The statement partly read, “A road traffic crash involving a loaded Tanker occurred in the early hours of today under the Ibafo pedestrian bridge on the outward Lagos section of the expressways. FRSC and other agencies have been on top of the situation since the occurrence of the crash.

“The contents of the fallen Tanker have been successfully trans-loaded into another and men of Ogun State Fire Service have proceeded to refill their water tank.

“Unfortunately, some inpatient drivers who choose to drive against the flow of traffic from all available exit points have done so, thereby causing traffic jams not only for the outward Lagos section where the RTC occurred alone but also, the inward Lagos section as well.”

A source in the Corps had earlier told The PUNCH that the crash occurred as a result of the driver’s fatigue and loss of control.

An FRSC official had also confirmed that no life was lost in the crash.