One person was killed and two others injured after multiple crashes on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway caused severe traffic congestion around the Kara Bridge corridor in Lagos on Friday, 24 July 2026, forcing the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to direct motorists to alternative routes.
The Fatal Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Crashes occurred on both the outbound carriageway towards Ibadan and the inbound lane leading into Lagos during the early hours of Friday.
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Emergency responders remained at the scene as recovery operations continued, leaving thousands of commuters stranded in lengthy traffic queues.
According to a statement issued by Elizabeth Jayeola, the Lagos Sector Public Education Officer of the FRSC, the first crash happened at about 12:05 a.m. on the outbound carriageway. It involved five articulated trucks and one Toyota Sienna.
The FRSC attributed the collision to excessive speed and loss of control.
A total of seven adult men were involved in the crash. One person died, another sustained injuries and five escaped unharmed.
Rescue operations became more complex because the deceased remained trapped beneath one of the heavily loaded trucks, requiring specialised recovery equipment before evacuation could be completed.
While emergency teams were responding to the first incident, a second crash occurred at about 3:15 a.m. on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos.
The lone accident involved a Mazda commercial bus, with the FRSC identifying brake failure as the cause.
The driver suffered serious injuries and was rescued by FRSC personnel before being taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for treatment.
The back-to-back incidents created significant disruption along one of Nigeria’s busiest highways, with the FRSC, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other emergency responders working to remove damaged vehicles, recover the trapped victim and restore the flow of traffic.
The coordinated response highlighted the scale of the operation required to reopen the affected section of the expressway.
Lagos Sector Commander Kehinde Hamzat expressed sympathy to the families of the victims while urging motorists to remain patient and cooperate with traffic officials.
“Motorists are strongly advised to use alternative routes where possible to avoid delays from the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor until recovery operations are concluded,” Hamzat said.
The FRSC advised motorists travelling from Lagos towards Ibadan to use the Ikorodu-Sagamu route, while those heading into Lagos were encouraged to consider the Lekki-Epe Expressway or the Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway to reduce congestion.
The agency also reminded drivers, particularly operators of articulated trucks and commercial buses, to ensure their vehicles are mechanically sound before embarking on journeys.
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The latest crashes add to ongoing concerns about road safety on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where excessive speed, vehicle defects and heavy traffic have contributed to several fatal accidents in recent years despite continuous enforcement and emergency response efforts.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
