Thousands of Lagos commuters endured hours of standstill traffic on Thursday as severe congestion hit key routes including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ojota, and Berger, forcing transporters to hike fares significantly.
The gridlock, which began as early as 8:00 am, was worst at Kara Bridge where business activity at the cattle market surged ahead of the Eid-El-Fitri celebration. By 1:00 pm, the congestion remained unresolved, stranding passengers and commercial drivers alike.
“We are currently experiencing massive vehicular outflow from Tollgate heading inward Secretariat, Otedola bridge, and Berger due to ongoing market activities at Kara,” the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said via its official handle on X around 9:00 am.
The Lagos State Government also announced a traffic diversion at Ikeja Along Bus Stop, between Ile Zik and Conoil Petrol Station, on the Oshodi-bound lane, further contributing to the heavy traffic in the area.
Commuters heading to popular locations such as CMS, Alausa, Magboro, and Mowe were forced to either abandon their trips or seek alternative routes as commercial drivers diverted through Ojota and Alausa in an attempt to bypass the jam.
At CMS, some passengers traveling to Berger disembarked and returned to explore other routes, citing fear of being stuck indefinitely.
“I had to get down and look for another way.”
“The buses refused to move, and we were just wasting time and money,” said Tosin, a commuter affected by the hold-up.
Transport fares skyrocketed across major routes. At Iyana Oworo, drivers charged as high as ₦1,000 to Berger, while passengers at Berger paid between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 to get to Magboro, Mowe, and Ibafo — areas typically less expensive to reach.
A driver at Berger, who identified himself as Shola, said, “We’re spending hours in this traffic. We have to make up for fuel and time lost.”
Findings revealed that a similar situation occurred on Wednesday, indicating a growing trend of congestion and fare hikes on the busy corridor.
The Lagos State Government has come under renewed criticism for what some citizens describe as inadequate planning and poor traffic management.
“We need a long-term solution, not just diversions and alerts,” said Maryam Balogun, a Lagos-based civil servant.
