On Thursday, Lagos residents faced yet another day of crippling traffic congestion, as major roads across the city ground to a standstill for hours. The gridlock, which has become a recurring nightmare, showed no sign of easing, leaving commuters frustrated and stranded.
A significant traffic jam developed on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, starting from the well-known Otedola Bridge and stretching through Ogun State, finally easing at the Fatgbem Filling Station. This bottleneck left thousands of people stranded, with many forced to abandon vehicles and walk long distances.
Passengers, unable to wait for commercial vehicles trapped in the snarl, were seen trekking towards the Fatgbem filling station. The situation was particularly dire for the elderly and families with young children, who stood helplessly by the roadside under the scorching sun.
The usually bustling Berger Bus Stop, a hub for travelers heading to Mowe, Magboro, Wawa, and Arepo, was eerily quiet. The area was overtaken by vehicles stuck in traffic and stranded passengers, while street vendors took advantage of the situation, weaving between cars to sell water, soft drinks, and snacks.
Transport fares soared as commercial drivers exploited the chaos, charging between N2,000 and N2,500 for trips that would normally cost N500–N700. Some private car owners showed compassion by offering rides to weary commuters.
Kazeem Olarewaju, a commuter, described the ordeal as intolerable. “I don’t understand why a few people are allowed to inconvenience everyone else. Why can’t the government relocate these ram sellers? Why should people suffer like this just because they want to use a public road? This is 5 p.m. I left the Lagos Secretariat around 3 pm, and I’ve barely moved. The bus fare has tripled,” he lamented.
Another road user, who preferred to remain anonymous, echoed similar frustrations and called on the government to move the Kara market. “You won’t see any of our leaders plying this road. It’s only the common man. Please, help us beg them to move this market elsewhere. It’s not a difficult thing to do if the government truly wants to help us, especially during festive seasons,” he said.
Ademola, traveling to Ibadan with his family, described the Kara market as a persistent source of trouble. “That market has become a menace for road users during Sallah celebrations. This isn’t the first time commuters are facing this kind of hardship. If it’s not road repairs, it’s ram sellers. Every year, there’s a problem. The FRSC officials are trying, but this is beyond just traffic control,” he added.
Florence Okpe, spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the situation and attributed the congestion to increased activity at the Kara Market ahead of Sallah. “Our officials are already on the ground and will remain there to manage the traffic throughout the festive period,” she assured.
Elsewhere in Lagos, gridlock was reported in several areas as pre-Sallah market activities and the evening rush hour brought traffic to a crawl. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) reported significant congestion on the CMS Bridge towards Offin Canal Market due to market-related activities, though the stretch beyond the market to Ijora Olopa by the NEPA intersection was clear.
Traffic also built up along Broad Street, with congestion extending towards the Apongbon underbridge, linked to market activities at Offin Canal Market and Olowogbowo, as well as the usual evening rush. However, movement was smooth on Eko Bridge by the NEPA intersection and towards CMS, Elegbeta Mini Stadium, and Ebute-Ero Market. The stretch from Ebute-Ero Market through Leventis, UBA Roundabout, and the inner and outer Marina remained clear.
LASTMA officials were seen at key choke points, directing traffic to ease the flow. In areas like Egbeda, particularly along the Idimu-Isheri Road, traffic was intense due to ram trading, while makeshift ram markets at College Bus Stop in Ikotun further compounded delays.
