The ongoing two-week repair work on the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has triggered severe traffic congestion, leaving thousands of motorists and commuters stranded for hours and disrupting movement along one of the busiest routes connecting Lagos and Ogun states.
The Federal Government commenced repairs on the damaged expansion joints of the bridge on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, following earlier plans to begin the exercise in August.
The repair project was initially suspended after motorists and other road users raised concerns about the short notice given for the work and the potential impact on traffic. Authorities subsequently announced that the exercise would be reviewed to allow for better traffic management and the deployment of security and traffic-control personnel.
However, the commencement of the repairs has resulted in significant gridlock along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor, with the traffic situation worsening from Tuesday and persisting into Wednesday morning.
As of 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, traffic congestion had stretched from the Kara Bridge in Ogun State through the 7Up Junction in Lagos and beyond. Motorists travelling towards Lagos faced prolonged delays, while vehicles approaching the Otedola Underpass from Ikeja and Agege were also caught in the congestion.
The gridlock extended beyond the Otunba Jobi Fele Way, creating a long chain of stationary and slow-moving vehicles across several adjoining routes.
Traffic officials and security agencies were deployed to manage the situation. Police and military personnel, alongside officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, were seen directing traffic and attempting to prevent a complete shutdown of the corridor.
At some points, security personnel had to alternate the movement of vehicles travelling towards Kara from Isheri and Ojodu with those approaching from the expressway in an effort to ease the pressure on the affected sections.
Despite the heavy presence of traffic and security officials, the repair work continued to cause major disruptions, particularly around the entry and exit points of the bridge and the OPIC axis.
The situation became even more difficult for motorists on Wednesday morning, with traffic already building up as early as 5:30 a.m.
Some motorists heading towards Mowe and other parts of Ogun State resorted to driving against traffic in an attempt to escape the long queues and reach their destinations.
The worsening congestion has also created opportunities for street urchins and touts, who were seen moving along the corridor and chasing commercial vehicles in an attempt to make quick money from stranded motorists and passengers.
For commuters who rely on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway daily, the disruption has created serious difficulties, with many reporting that they have been unable to arrive at their workplaces, schools, businesses and appointments on time.
Some commuters said they spent several hours trapped in traffic over relatively short distances, raising concerns about the broader impact of the repair exercise if adequate traffic diversion measures are not implemented.
A motorist, Tijani Akinyele, who spoke with our correspondent, described the situation as “terrible”.
According to him, motorists travelling towards Mowe who were unable to find viable alternative routes on Tuesday were forced to drive against traffic on Wednesday morning.
“We didn’t expect this whole repair would turn out like this. The situation is terrible, but there’s nothing I can do,” he said.
Akinyele also criticised the government for failing to put sufficient measures in place before commencing the repairs.
“I will blame the government because they ought to have found a solution to this before now,” he added.
