Tinubu inherits Lagos-Ibadan Expressway gridlock, motorists, others stranded Sunday

Hundreds of motorists and commuters were on Sunday trapped for hours in the gridlock induced by the ongoing road construction at the Berger end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The repair of the federal road started since the administration of the former president Obasanjo (1999 – 2007) and has continued throughout three other administration before being inherited by President Bola Tinubu, who took over this year.

Former works minister, Babatunde Fashola had boasted that the road would be completed before the new administration started work on May, 29, but it turned out to be mere political talk.

PUNCH also reported that the gridlock on Sunday worsened when the construction workers collapsed both routes of the expressway into two lanes.

The influx of vehicles plying the narrowed lanes to navigate their destinations in Ogun and Lagos states subsequently created a backlog of traffic that trapped many motorists.

A driver, Olumide Salami, said the construction workers should have provided alternative routes, adding that he was driving from Ilorin when he ran into the gridlock on the expressway.

He said, “I left Ilorin in the morning around 11am.

“Drivers are always afraid of coming to Lagos because of gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The road is something else. They said that they are constructing the road and it was narrowed but I think this is not fair because the company should have provided an alternative.”

Another driver, Gbenga Onalapo, said he got trapped for three hours in the gridlock that stretched down to the Long Bridge area of the expressway.

A commuter, who identified himself simply as Ade, said in a bid to avoid being trapped in the gridlock occasioned some motorists resorted to driving against the traffic.

Another victim of the gridlock, Samuel, who said he spent three hours, added that the gridlock stretched from the Seven Up down to the New Garage area of the expressway.

He added, “Commercial drivers are charging more money because of the gridlock. From Ketu to Mowe which used to be N500, drivers are now collecting N1000.”

The Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Babatunde Farinloye, urged motorists to cooperate with traffic officers on the road.

He said, “The traffic started as a result of the ongoing construction. You know we are getting to the last lap of the construction, so there are diversions, and the impatience on the part of the motorists is what is making the whole thing very hectic. If people can maintain discipline and obey the traffic managers on the road, we will have less-hectic traffic and there will be no congestion.”