Traffic Jam Paralyses Lagos Roads

Adebobola Alawode

Motorists and commuters were trapped in traffic for several hours today on Ikorodu Road, Apapa-Oshodi expressway, 3rd Mainland Bridge and other parts of the city.

According to our correspondents, the ongoing repair on the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, lane on Ikorodu Road, the trucks parked on Apapa-Oshodi expressway and vehicles that broke down on the roads due to overheating were some of the causes of the gridlock.

A senior civil servant, who pleaded to remain anonymous, complained bitterly that she left Lekki at about 8:30 am and at 10:30am, she was still on 3rd Mainland Bridge.

Other motorists had to turn back when the traffic jam became harrowing.

For commuters on the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway it was hell as operators of commuter buses had to increase their fares because of the traffic gridlock.

One of the stranded commuters said that the traffic gridlock started as early as 6am and he had to fight his way into the bus and yet paid thrice of the usual fare from Second Rainbow bus stop to Oshodi.

A motorist described his experience as harrowing and that he had to drive against traffic for him to be able to get to his office in good time.

According to a commuter ‘‘If you weren’t at the bus stop this Wednesday morning you wouldn’t know what people went through. I tell you that it was as if we were fleeing from the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram yet they increased the fare by over 300 per cent.’’

Another stranded passenger attributed the traffic snarl to the early morning rains and the slow pace of work by Julius Berger Construction, the construction company handling the resurfacing of the expressway.