Exercise Patience, Caution – FRSC Urges As Otedola Bridge Truck Crash Causes Gridlock

A multiple-vehicle collision involving three trucks on the Otedola Bridge at about 5:55am on Friday has left commuters trapped in a massive traffic gridlock that has stretched from the bridge to the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the incident in a statement released shortly after the crash, saying the collision had caused a major obstruction on the bridge and urged motorists to remain calm as efforts were ongoing to clear the wreckage.

“We urge members of the public to exercise patience and caution while driving, especially in the affected area,” the agency said.

As the early morning rush hour unfolded, motorists heading into Lagos found themselves stuck in an unprecedented backup, with some commuters reporting that they had been immobile for over two hours.

The gridlock extended beyond the bridge and spilled onto the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, heightening the risk of secondary accidents as frustrated drivers attempted to navigate around the stalled vehicles.

In collaboration with other traffic agencies, the FRSC said it was working diligently to restore normal traffic flow, but the scale of the collision and the size of the vehicles involved meant that clearance operations were expected to take several hours.

The agency appealed to drivers to avoid driving against traffic and to adhere strictly to traffic regulations to prevent further crashes.

The crash comes at a time when Lagos motorists are already grappling with heavy traffic across major corridors, and incidents like this add pressure to an already fragile transport system.

The FRSC’s warning to “exercise patience and caution” reflects the ongoing challenge of managing road safety in a city where roads are often congested and motorists sometimes take risks to escape gridlock.

By mid-morning, officials were still on the scene, and the bridge remained partially blocked, with traffic flowing slowly through the available lanes. Commuters were advised to seek alternative routes where possible and to remain cautious as they approached the affected area.

The FRSC said it appreciated the public’s cooperation and understanding as the agencies worked to get traffic moving smoothly again, but the incident underscored the urgent need for more robust traffic management and better enforcement of road safety regulations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.