No fewer than one driver has been confirmed dead following a multiple articulated vehicle collision in the early hours of Friday at Otedola Bridge, inward Secretariat along the Lagos–Ibadan Motorway.
The deceased has not yet been identified.
The principal incident involved two heavy-duty trailers, one carrying sand and the other granite, which reportedly collided after a contest for right of way. The driver of the sand-laden trailer was trapped in the wreckage and sustained fatal injuries.
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Rescue Team extricated him and handed him over to personnel of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), who conveyed him to the General Hospital, Ikeja, where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the granite-laden trailer was rescued unhurt.
A separate incident about 50 metres away, in which a trailer carrying flour overturned, worsened the congestion but did not result in further fatalities.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, described the death as “deeply regrettable and largely preventable.” He attributed the collision to impatience, indiscipline, and the refusal of drivers to yield on the motorway. He extended condolences to the family of the deceased and prayed for fortitude to bear the loss.
Security operatives and emergency responders from LASTMA, LASAMBUS, and the Lagos State Police Command were deployed to manage the scene, extract victims, and maintain public safety.
Traffic along the corridor was severely disrupted, with about 80 per cent of the carriageway obstructed, prompting diversions for motorists heading into Lagos.
Otedola Bridge has a history of accidents, often involving heavy-duty vehicles. Past incidents include a December 2025 multi-vehicle collision that killed a family of three, and a fatal crash last year involving a truck and an Audi.
Authorities have previously cited speeding, brake failures, and truck mishaps as recurring factors in accidents along the corridor.
The Lagos State Government reiterated its commitment to road safety and called on drivers, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles, to adhere strictly to traffic regulations to prevent further loss of life.
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