Commuters on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were caught in a heavy traffic gridlock on Wednesday morning after a mechanical fault involving a Mack truck at Otedola Bridge led to a major obstruction on the highway.
The incident reportedly began with a minor battery failure but escalated into a complete road blockage when the vehicle overturned during a private recovery attempt, spilling two 20-foot containers onto the busy expressway.
The containers blocked movement in both directions of the highway, causing a long line of vehicles that stretched as far back as Kara Bridge.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that the containers had been successfully removed and traffic flow restored.
“The two containerised boxes have been successfully recovered and removed from the roadway. Traffic is moving very fast. Our officers are still on the ground, managing traffic and ensuring smooth vehicular movement,” the agency said.
According to LASTMA, the Mack truck “developed a battery/mechanical fault on Otedola Bridge inward Secretariat.”
The agency explained that the truck overturned during a private recovery effort, leading to the containers falling onto the roadway and triggering severe traffic congestion on both the inward and outward sections of the expressway.
In response, LASTMA deployed a high-capacity tow truck to the scene while a crane was mobilised to assist with the recovery operation.
The agency also said its Rescue and Recovery Team was stationed at the location to remove the vehicle and manage traffic.
Officials added that although the backlog of vehicles had earlier extended beyond Kara Bridge during the operation, the highway has now been cleared and normal vehicular movement restored.
