Tag: Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Tanker Explosion Causes Gridlock On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

 

The traffic situation in Lagos State appears to have intensified over the last 24 hours following a tanker explosion.

The explosion involving a fuel tanker occurred on the Longbridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday evening.

Although there were no casualties, the incident resulted in gridlock as commuters were prevented from driving through until the fire was quenched and the remains of the vehicle were removed.

The gridlock spilled over into the early hours of Wednesday, causing hours of delay for commuters heading to various destinations.

This comes amidst the recent ban of tricycles (Keke) and motorcycles (Okada) by the Lagos State government which many say has worsened their plight in commuting to and fro their destinations.

Read Also: Reps Set To Deliberate On Challenges Of Out-Of-School Children

In addition to the limited means of transportation available, the Lagos/Ibadan expressway has experienced intense levels of traffic as a result of the ongoing reconstruction of the road.

Officials, however, say that the reconstruction which has lasted nearly 2 months is set to be concluded by the end of the month.

Hopefully, some relief will come to Nigerians.

Motorists, Commuters Stranded As Trucks Break Down On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

 

Motorists and commuters plying locations around Lagos-Ibadan expressway were on Wednesday morning left stranded.

This according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was caused by a fully loaded truck that lost control and another truck that broke down at the Kara construction area of the expressway.

READ ALSO: Soyinka, Sani In Court As Sowore’s Trial Resumes

The two broken-down trucks ended up causing an obstruction on both sections of the expressway causing huge traffic at adjoining routes in Isheri Magodo, Alausa, Ogba and incoming traffic from Ojota, Ikorodu road and Alapere axis.

“The traffic is at standstill on Lagos Ibadan expressway following a crash that occurred at Kara construction area.

“A fully loaded truck lost control crossing the entire road both inwards and outwards. Our men are on the ground trying to pull it off the road without much success due to the load it’s carrying,” a statement from the FRSC command explained.

The truck was eventually evacuated.

FG Signs Tripartite Agreement To Repatriate $318m Abacha Loot

File Photo of President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

The Federal Government has signed an agreement with the United States of America and the Island of Jersey to repatriate the sum of $318,460,329 looted and stashed away by former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, the agreement was sealed on Monday at the United States Department of States, Washington DC.

He stated that the Federal Government intends to use the recovered loot to fund three major projects, namely, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Abuja – Kano Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge and will be supervised by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.

READ ALSO: Buhari, Lawan, Gbajabiamila Discuss Nigeria’s Security

 

Nigerian delegates at the Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission 2020 in Washington DC. Photo:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria

 

The agreement was signed by the Attorney General of the Federation Mr Abubakar Malami on behalf of the Federal Government, Mr Mark Temple, Assistant Solicitor General of the Island of Jersey and Mr Kevin Drisioil, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the US Department of Justice on behalf of the Government of the United States signed the treaty.

Mr Nwonye also revealed that the agreement was witnessed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and his counterparts from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Humanitarian Affairs, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, the National Security Adviser, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Group Managing Director of NNPC, and the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, among others.

The delegates had travelled on Sunday for the annual three-day meeting of the United States-Nigeria Bi-national Commission in Washington DC.

The meeting is aimed at reviewing bilateral relationship and taking the necessary steps to advance mutual interest in all diplomatic areas among the two countries.

Traffic Builds As Repair Works Resumes On Kara Bridge Axis


Commuters along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway stretching from Berger to Kara cattle market axis are expected to face longer journey hours as repair work resumes. 

The road which was re-opened on December 1, 2019, was partially closed in September when the reconstruction work commenced and traffic was diverted on both sides of the expressway.

Channels Television observed that traffic outbound Lagos has already been diverted to the inbound section, with slow vehicular movements witnessed, similar to the one witnessed since the commencement of the reconstruction.

READ ALSO: Reps Panel Directs NERC To Suspend Increase In Electricity Tariff

Both in and out-bound motorists now have had to endure the gridlock which sometimes lasts for hours.

The initial work plan was reviewed when the ministry failed to meet up with the set completion date for the 1.2-kilometer rehabilitation and reconstruction which kicked off in September last year.

According to the Federal Controller of Works, Mr. Adedamola Kuti who spoke to Channels Television, the project is expected to be completed next month.

“We are fully ready for this; we are right in the dry season, a construction season so we don’t expect the kind of experience we had during the rainy season.

“By the time we get ready, here should be taking us this month and next month. By the end of February we should be completing the 600 meters work on the outbound Lagos,” he confirmed.

The rainy season forced the deadline for the completion of the reconstruction of the Kara/Berger, forcing road users to bear the brunt as they spent long hours in traffic.

Commuters have been enjoying an easier flow of traffic on the highway since it was re-opened in December 2019.

See photos below:

Two Killed, One Critically Injured In Otedola Bridge Accident

 

Two persons have been killed while one person is in a critical condition following an accident that occurred on the Otedola bridge off the Berger-end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The accident which occurred on Saturday involved a truck carrying granite and an SUV.

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General-Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed the incident and the number of casualties to Channels Television.

According to LASEMA, three others were rescued, while two were treated on the spot and discharged.

Fire Guts Kara Market On New Year’s Eve

 

The Kara market located along the Berger end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has been gutted by fire.

On arriving at the scene, Channels TV observed that some goods, shops and a vehicle had been burnt to ashes.

According to some of the traders, the incident was as a result of a generator explosion.

Currently, there are no casualties and men of the fire service were on ground to quench the inferno.

 

Christmas Day: Two Killed, Five Crashes Recorded On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

 

A total of five road crashes were recorded at various sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Christmas Day.

Spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Florence Okpe, confirmed this in a situation report forwarded to Channels Television on Thursday.

The first crash was said to have occurred at about 04:48am on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway around RCCG CAR PARK C.

This involved a tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, which crashed into the road barriers.

 

Although two persons were involved and none sustained injury or died, the incident impeded traffic for several hours on the outward Lagos section of the highway.

Similarly, a second crash occurred at about 06:55am involving another truck that spilled its alcoholic beverages it was conveying on the road.

Two persons were also involved but no injury or death was recorded from the crash.

The third crash occurred about three hours later also on the highway, claiming the lives of two persons.

 

“A total of five persons were involved, all male adults,” the Sector Command spokesperson said, adding “three persons were injured but two male adults were killed.”

According to her, the cause of the crash was as a result of route violation at a high speed that led to a loss of control.

Florence explained that the vehicle was driving against traffic before it collided with pedestrians waiting to board commercial vehicles.

She noted that the injured victims were rescued and taken to a hospital in Sagamu while the bodies of the killed victims were deposited at a morgue.

 

The fourth crash also occurred on the same route with three vehicles involved but this time, under the Sagamu Interchange Bridge at about 5:30pm.

Two tankers conveying petroleum products were said to have crashed into each other on the outward section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Both vehicles went up in flames due to the impact of the crash and this impaired traffic while the section of the road was temporarily closed to traffic.

 

Six people were involved and no injury or death was recorded from the crash.

About six hours later, the fifth crash occurred around J5 Park at Ogere along the highway, involving three persons.

The three victims were injured but no death was recorded.

Petrol-Laden Tanker Crashes, Causes Gridlock On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

 

A tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, has crashed along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The incident occurred at about 5:10am on Christmas Day around the RCCG Car Park C in Mowe on the outward Lagos section of the highway.

This has resulted in a gridlock on both sections of the road, the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ogun State Command, Florence Okpe, said in a statement.

The tanker was said to be conveying petrol before it crashed into the barriers, although the FRSC said it was managing the situation.

 

Okpe revealed that the agency immediately contacted the Fire Service and Julius Berger Nigeria PLC Emergency Team to commence transloading and removal of the crashed tanker and eventual realignment of the displaced barriers, to restore traffic.

“The FRSC hereby advises the early morning travellers going on far journeys to seek alternative routes away from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway via the Long Bridge to Mowe.

“The alternate corridors available are the Victoria Island-Ajah- Ijebu Ode Corridor and the Lagos-Ota- Itori-Abeokuta Expressway, considering the period it could take to transload the PMS in the crashed vehicle to another empty tanker, remove the crashed vehicle from the ditch, replace the road barriers the crash displaced and restore traffic,” the statement said.

The State Sector Commander, Clement Oladele, also appealed to motorists to note the traffic occurrences and bear with the inconveniences.

He gave the assurance that the FRSC rescue team was working with sister traffic and emergency agencies to restore free vehicular movement in the area.

FG Reopens Kara End Of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

 

The Federal Government has reopened the Kara Bridge axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The re-opening of the road began at about 9:00 am on Sunday and has brought about an easier flow of traffic on the highway which has otherwise been notorious for serious traffic jams since the commencement of the reconstruction.

It had been partially closed in September when the reconstruction work commenced and traffic was diverted on both sides of the expressway.

Read Also: FG Announces Free Train Ride On Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line

Both in and out-bound motorists who have had to use the expressway have had to endure the gridlock which sometimes lasted for hours.

However, with the development, commuters may now be able to heave a sigh of relief especially as the festive period approaches.

Reconstruction of the other half of the road is expected to commence in January 2020.

Five Killed In Accident Along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Lagos-Ibadan, FRSC
file photo

 

Five persons have died in an accident which occurred along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ogun State Command, confirmed this in a report released on Sunday.

According to the report, the incident which involved one vehicle occurred around 21:10 pm on Saturday.

A total of 14 people (10 male and 4 female) were involved, nine of which survived with injuries.

Read Also: FG Reopens Kara End Of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

The State FRSC Commander, Clement Oladele stated that the Injured victims were rushed to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) Sagamu, for treatment, while the corpses of the dead victims were deposited at the hospital’s morgue.

While the true cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained, Oladele noted that it may have been as a result of over speeding.

He commiserated with the victims and enjoined members of the public whose relations travelled in the Ill-fated crash to contact the FRSC Command in Sagamu or the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) Sagamu, for further details.

The sector commander also reiterated the need for motorists to drive cautiously within the recommended speed of 50 kilometers per hour at construction sites.

FG To Open Kara Axis Of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway On Sunday

A file photo of a section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in South-west Nigeria.

 

 

The Federal Government has announced plans to open the Kara Bridge of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Sunday.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, confirmed this to Channels Television on Saturday.

According to him, the road would be opened by 9am to ease the flow of traffic on the highway, especially as the festive period is fast approaching.

READ ALSO: FG Announces Free Train Ride On Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line

Kuti affirmed that construction work had been completed on that part of the road inbound Lagos, but the government has decided to suspend construction work on the highway outbound Lagos.

He explained that if work was allowed to go on, it would affect the movement of travellers during the period and they would not like to leave it halfway.

The government official added that contractors would return to the site in January and immediately commence construction work on the other side of the road.

Motorists on the highway can now heave a sigh of relief with the opening of the road after almost three months since it was partially closed.

It has been a tough situation since September 2 for Nigerians living after the Kara Bridge axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway going inwards Lagos as they are made to face traffic which sometimes lasts a few hours.

The partial closure was initially scheduled to begin on August 3 but it was postponed by one month for Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the construction company handling the project, to commence work.

Upon the closure, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) advised travellers to take the Lagos-Abeokuta and Ikorodu-Sagamu highways as alternative routes while the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority LASTMA released a traffic advisory for motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Deadline For Completion Of Kara End Of Lagos/Ibadan Expressway Extended

 

 

The completion of the reconstruction of the Kara/Berger axis of the Lagos Ibadan expressway has suffered a setback.

With the commencement of the reconstruction work in September, it was billed to be completed by mid-December but it appears that may no longer be feasible.

The inbound Lagos lane had been shut down over the last couple of months, while the outbound lane had been split to accommodate vehicles commuting in and out of the state.

Both lanes ought to have been fully reconstructed and reopened by December but the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Adedamola Kuti, told Channels Television that the delay has been partly because of the rainy season.

Consequently, road users have been forced bear the brunt as they spend long hours in traffic.

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Mr Kuti, however, says, “We hope that we are already getting to the end of the rainy season, so if it continues like that, we should be able to complete the inbound Lagos and at the end of the day, once it is completed, rather than putting our people under serious stress, we will open both lanes because by then we will be entering into the Christmas season so we will open both lanes and allow the traffic to run”.

According to him, hopefully by January 2020, the rains would have subsided and the construction of the second half of the road can be completed.

“By January next year, we will come back and work on the outbound Lagos”.