Lagos Govt Identifies Causes of Otedola Bridge Crashes

The Lagos State Government has attributed recurring accidents on Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to reckless driving, speeding, overloaded trucks and vehicles in poor condition.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed this during the annual media parley organised by the state Ministry of Transportation in Ikeja.

Osiyemi said structural assessments carried out by officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and the Lagos State Government found no engineering defects on the bridge.

He said the findings indicated that driver behaviour and the condition of vehicles using the route were major factors behind the repeated crashes.

“Our recent joint assessment with the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, alongside previous structural integrity tests, shows conclusively that Otedola Bridge has no engineering defects.

“The recurring accidents are largely linked to motorist behavior and the poor condition of vehicles plying the road,” he said.

The commissioner also raised concerns over overloaded heavy-duty vehicles and indiscriminate parking along major roads, noting that such practices could obstruct traffic and endanger road users.

He announced plans to introduce weighbridges at strategic locations across the state to monitor the weight of trucks and ensure compliance with approved limits.

Osiyemi further cautioned motorists against excessive speeding on roads undergoing construction, particularly the ongoing coastal road project. He urged drivers to exercise caution and obey traffic regulations when approaching construction zones.

Also speaking at the event, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the volume of cargo transported through Lagos places considerable pressure on the state’s road infrastructure.

According to him, more than 60 per cent of cargo transported in Nigeria originates from or passes through Lagos, contributing to the high number of articulated trucks operating on the state’s roads.

Bakare-Oki identified human error and excessive speeding as major causes of crashes along the Otedola Bridge corridor, adding that the movement and congestion associated with heavy-duty vehicles also increase road safety risks.

Otedola Bridge has recorded repeated road crashes, some resulting in deaths, damage to property and severe traffic congestion.

The recurring incidents have prompted calls from motorists and residents for federal and state authorities to take further steps to improve safety along the route.