Motorists faced severe gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday due to livestock traders at the Kara Market blocking sections of the road. The congestion was exacerbated by large trucks parked on the highway for offloading animals, further impeding traffic flow.
Our correspondents observed that sellers displayed livestock directly on the road, causing significant delays.
The traffic backlog extended from OPIC to Arepo, worsening as buyers parked their vehicles along the road, trying to purchase livestock for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival.
Stranded motorists criticized the government for allowing traders to disrupt traffic, particularly during festive periods when the expressway is usually congested. Kazeem, a motor boy, lamented, “This gridlock started since morning, and it is already getting worse.”
Passenger Moses Uche attributed the congestion to both the traders and the impatience of some road users, noting that the expressway is notorious for traffic issues, especially during the rainy season.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, condemned the traders' actions as "greedy and selfish" and stated that efforts were underway, in collaboration with the police and other agencies, to resolve the traffic issues. Akinbiyi emphasized that festive periods always bring additional traffic challenges, particularly with the influx of livestock.
Florence Okpe, spokesperson for the Ogun State sector command of the FRSC, confirmed that officials had been dispatched to manage the traffic and that operational orders for Eid-el-Kabir were in place. She assured that FRSC personnel were actively working to control the situation and would continue to monitor the traffic closely.
