Motorists and commuters were stranded for more than three hours on Sunday following a gridlock between Ovia Bridge and Okada Junction along the Lagos-Benin Expressway.
The traffic congestion occurred in the early hours of the day, with articulated vehicles accounting for a significant number of those trapped on the highway.
Some of the drivers reportedly left Benin early to reach their destinations on time but were delayed by the gridlock, which was worsened by vehicle breakdowns and an accident along the route.
Some motorists blamed the situation on impatience and the indiscriminate parking of trucks by drivers who reportedly slept by the roadside instead of continuing their journeys early.
They also identified the Okada axis as a recurring traffic bottleneck, particularly around a damaged section of the road near the Tipper Garage.
A truck driver, Akanni, criticised some of his colleagues for failing to comply with traffic regulations and contributing to the congestion.
“Imagine drivers parking by the roadside, sleeping and not waking up on time to continue their journey, thereby contributing to the gridlock,” he said.
Another driver, Chukwu, said he learnt of a traffic jam around Ovia Bridge at about 2am on Sunday and decided to sleep at a bypass near Oluku.
He said he was surprised to encounter another gridlock after passing through the Ovia Bridge section without difficulty.
Chukwu blamed the situation on what he described as inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations by the government and its agencies, particularly the Federal Road Safety Corps.
He also urged the Edo State Government to repair the damaged section of the road near Okada to ease the movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
“Everything boils down to the government. Their agencies must enforce the law, while the repair of the bad portion of the road should also be done,” he added.
However, motorists’ impatience further worsened the situation, as some drivers resorted to driving against traffic while attempting to navigate the congestion, causing additional obstruction on the highway.
When contacted, the Edo State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Preye Bedford, said his personnel regularly monitored the axis to ensure smooth traffic flow and respond to incidents capable of causing gridlock.
He urged motorists to remain patient and obey traffic regulations.
“Though my men are not permanently positioned in that axis, I do send them to that particular spot every two days. The men near Ofosu and other spots are always on alert in case there is a vehicle breakdown in the area,” Bedford said.
He explained that FRSC personnel were deployed to the area whenever the agency received reports of accidents or vehicle breakdowns to help manage traffic.
“We usually deploy our men there once we are informed of an accident or vehicle breakdown along that axis to ensure that traffic flows. For now, we do not have personnel permanently stationed there. What I will advise is for people to be patient and obey traffic rules,” he added.