Lagos residents commuting from the Berger area of the state were stranded, and many were stuck in traffic on Wednesday morning due to an accident along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Residents told FIJ that at least two trailers were involved in an accident on the expressway. A driver disclosed that the trailers fell on their sides in the Kara/Long-Bridge area.

“Three trailers fell down at Kara. That’s what caused the traffic. Moreover, accidents happen in the area every December like this,” the driver said.

Another resident, who lives in Magboro, Ogun State, but works in the Seven-Up area of Lagos, told FIJ that she saw two trailers on her way to work.

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“There was a fatal accident on that route. I saw two trailers on the road, though I don’t know if some buses or cars were also involved in the accident. Coming to Lagos, the road was free, but from that Kara area to Secretariat, everywhere was blocked,” the resident said.

A Channels TV report stated that an accident involving seven vehicles occurred along Kara Road in the early hours of Wednesday. The vehicles included container-laden heavy-duty trucks and cars.

According to the report, at least one person was confirmed dead, and four others were injured in the first leg of the accidents at midnight. The Lagos Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributed the crash to overspeeding.

FIJ observed that workers residing in areas such as Berger, Ojodu, Grammar School, Akiode and Jakande-Agidingbi but commuting to First Gate, Ojota and Ikeja areas were stranded. The demand for public transport was higher than the supply.

Those on the other lane, heading to Berger, were stuck on the road. FIJ noticed that the traffic on that lane was at a standstill and barely moving.

For many of these workers, early morning traffic congestion was an unusual occurrence. And because buses were scarce, many had to trek long distances while some had to wait far longer than usual for buses. Others had to pay more because of hikes in fare.

This reporter overheard a resident tell someone on the phone that she walked from Road Safety Street down to the Lateef Jakande area of Agidingbi before getting a bus — because everywhere was blocked.

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Feranmi Olagunju, a resident, told FIJ that some of the buses plying his route (Ojodu to Ikeja) were charging as high as N700 for a trip that would usually cost him between N400 and N500.

“I walked from my junction and almost reached NNPC before I saw those buses. But the people who were rushing to enter were too much. I couldn’t even manage to get one. I am walking this distance in the hope of getting a bus. And right now, I don’t even mind paying that amount as long as I get to the office,” Olagunju told FIJ.