Frustrated commuters have criticised the Ogun State Government for what they described as a sluggish and inadequate response to a petrol tanker explosion that resulted in a gridlock lasting more than a day on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The congestion, which began after a fuel tanker overturned and exploded near the NASFAT corridor of the expressway, left thousands stranded well into the following day. As of early afternoon, traffic remained at a standstill, stretching from the Mobil Filling Station just after Arepo deep into Ogun State, though inbound traffic from Magboro into Lagos moved freely.
Travellers from the Sagamu Interchange into Lagos bore the brunt of the traffic, many of whom remained trapped for hours. With the backlog mounting, transport fares spiked, and some commercial drivers resorted to driving against traffic or abandoning routes altogether. One driver even dropped passengers off at Magboro, choosing to turn back rather than proceed.
Chinedu, a motor boy caught in the chaos, blamed Ogun authorities for failing to act swiftly. “If this had happened on the Lagos side, LASTMA and emergency agencies would have handled it quickly. Ogun always delays and waits for the Federal Government,” he said.
Sola, a commercial driver, shared a similar sentiment. “A similar incident happened at Otedola Bridge in Lagos, and the road was cleared by the next morning. Here, it’s been more than a day and we’re still stuck,” he said.
A commuter, Damola Olaniyi, who got to the expressway in the early hours, said the road remained blocked by midday with no traffic control in sight. Another traveller, a corps member named Olamide, recounted being stuck in the same spot for hours. “The burnt tanker was still there, with smoke rising. Nobody was attending to the wreck,” she said.
Several other motorists lamented the hours spent covering distances that should take minutes. One Arepo resident said it took over two hours to reach Ibafo—a trip that typically lasts five minutes. Another driver, Dele Ayeni, said he had been stranded for over three hours and felt “abandoned.”
Rafiu Alamu, who drives the Berger-Mowe route, said he entered the expressway at dawn but hadn’t completed a single trip by mid-morning. His passengers, frustrated and exhausted, had begun stepping out to stretch their legs, while a visibly pregnant woman nearby muttered, “Only God will save us in this country.”
Hawkers made brisk sales in the jam. A teenage boy selling sausage rolls said he’d made a significant amount of money. “But I pity the people stuck inside traffic,” he added.
Online, social media users condemned the delay. One user wrote, “It’s crazy that a tanker fire is still causing traffic the next day.” Another noted, “Only Lagos seems to have an emergency response system. This is simply irresponsible.”
Passenger Obinna Nwachukwu said the government should have deployed equipment to clear the wreckage promptly. “How can such a critical road remain blocked for nearly a full day?” he asked.
The explosion occurred after a tanker carrying petrol overturned and caught fire near NASFAT Camp. The resulting blaze triggered panic and locked down traffic for kilometres. Motorists trying to escape by driving against traffic added to the disorder.
Despite efforts by the police, soldiers, and FRSC officials, the situation deteriorated as night fell.
According to FRSC spokesperson Florence Okpe, responders arrived early in the morning but were hindered by uncooperative drivers. “Some motorists even tried to attack our officers. They refused to follow directions, which worsened the jam,” she said.
Efforts to reach the Director of the Ogun State Fire Service, Engr. Fatai Adefala, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.
Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Ogun Governor on Media and Strategy, acknowledged the challenges but assured that the government was addressing road infrastructure deficits. He noted that the current administration had built over a thousand kilometres of road across all LGAs.
“Given the volume of vehicles, accidents like this have serious ripple effects. TRACE was proactive in managing the situation,” he said.
He emphasised that road projects are tied to available resources and budget allocations. As of the time of reporting, normal traffic flow had resumed.
ADEOLA KUNLE
