Commuters and motorists were left stranded for hours on Tuesday as a massive gridlock brought movement to a crawl along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, particularly around Guru Maharaj Ji Village.
The standstill, which persisted for much of the day, was reportedly triggered by ongoing road rehabilitation works on several deteriorated sections, restricting traffic to a single lane and causing extensive delays.
With vehicles at a standstill for up to four hours, many passengers, including women and children, resorted to trekking long distances to reach their destinations. Frustrated transporters also decried the time and fuel lost due to the poor planning and lack of traffic control.
“This road has been in bad condition for months. Now they’ve started fixing it right before Sallah, when the traffic is always heavier. It shows how out of touch the system is,” said a stranded motorist.
Another commuter lamented, “I left Lagos at 10:23 a.m. It’s 4 p.m. now, and I’ve barely moved. Those in power don’t use these roads, that’s why they don’t care.”
Motorists criticized the Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) for poor timing and coordination of repairs, especially during a festive travel period, calling for better planning and alternative routes to ease the burden on the highway.