Kara Bridge Repairs, Multiple Crashes Trigger 14-Hour Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway - Newstrends
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Kara Bridge Repairs, Multiple Crashes Trigger 14-Hour Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

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Kara Bridge Repairs, Multiple Crashes Trigger 14-Hour Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Kara Bridge Repairs, Multiple Crashes Trigger 14-Hour Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Motorists and commuters along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway endured one of the year’s most punishing traffic ordeals this week, with some spending the night on the highway as a devastating combination of Kara Bridge repairs and multiple vehicle crashes brought movement to a complete standstill. The gridlock, which stretched from Kara Bridge through Long Bridge, Magboro, and deep into Lagos, left thousands of travellers exhausted, stranded, and in some cases, trekking long distances to reach their destinations.

At the heart of the crisis is the Federal Government’s two-week repair of damaged expansion joints on Kara Bridge—a critical infrastructure project that began on September 8, 2026, and is scheduled to run until September 22. The repairs became necessary because the bridge’s expansion joints had exceeded their service life. These components allow the bridge to safely expand and contract in response to temperature changes and traffic loads. Without replacement, authorities warned, the structure faced risks of cracking or buckling.

The work zone itself covers only about 100 metres. However, the traffic consequences have been catastrophic because Kara Bridge serves as one of the principal gateways between Lagos, Ogun State, and the wider South-West region. The repair strategy involves closing one half of the affected section while vehicles share the remaining half under traffic control. After approximately one week, the work shifts to the other half. While the bridge remains technically open, the reduced capacity has created a bottleneck on a corridor that carries an estimated 200,000 commuters daily.

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The situation escalated dramatically on Tuesday, September 15, when a 40-foot container truck suffered a mechanical fault while in motion, causing the driver to lose control and ram into six other vehicles. The crash involved a 40-foot container truck without registration, a Toyota Hilux, an interstate bus, a Hyundai Odyssey, a Sienna, a Toyota Highlander, and a Mitsubishi Hilux. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) dispatched its LRT Tiger Squad to the scene at 6:05 a.m., coordinating recovery efforts with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Nigeria Police Force. All affected vehicles were eventually cleared, and fortunately, no deaths or injuries were recorded in this particular incident.

Compounding the crisis, a container-laden trailer fell on Kara Bridge on Tuesday afternoon, forcing a total closure of the Lagos-bound section. Motorists heading in the opposite direction were forced to share a single side of the expressway. Authorities responded by removing barriers from a section initially closed for repairs to create an alternative passage.

The numbers tell only part of the story. For thousands of commuters, the experience was nothing short of traumatic. One entrepreneur, Nisak Akpan, described what should have been a 15-minute journey from Ojodu Berger turning into a seven-hour ordeal. She eventually gave up and checked into a hotel. “I spent seven hours at Ojodu Berger area, just trying to connect the express. I had to find a hotel to sleep. That was 15 minutes away from home on a normal day,” she recounted. Another motorist reported being stuck in traffic from 8 p.m. Tuesday and was “just still at Berger” the following morning. A truck driver heading to Aba said he was still stuck at Ikeja at 3 a.m. Wednesday, having spent the entire night on the road.

With vehicles stationary for hours, many commuters abandoned their journeys and resorted to walking. One commuter said: “I am headed to Mowe and I have been trekking for over three hours”. Another recounted trekking from New Garage to Berger after the traffic became unbearable. A third declared: “I trekked to work this morning. Never done it in my life. And the traffic is at a standstill”.

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Commercial transport operators capitalised on the desperation, with fares skyrocketing by as much as 150 per cent on some routes. The Berger to Oshodi route rose to ₦4,000, while Berger to Mowe climbed to ₦3,500. The Magboro to Berger route increased to ₦2,000, and Agege to OPIC reached ₦1,500. One stranded commuter, Mr Aina Abiola, said he was stuck at Ojodu Berger without enough money for the inflated fares: “I didn’t leave home with extra money. I’m now stranded… Commercial bus drivers have hiked fares by as much as 150 per cent. I am stranded and don’t have extra cash on me”.

The gridlock’s consequences extended far beyond individual frustration. With employees unable to reach their offices, companies along the affected corridors activated flexible work arrangements to salvage productivity. Adele Oluwagbenga, an HR manager at a media company in Ogudu GRA, implemented a structured remote work policy: 60–70 per cent of staff working from home two to three times weekly, 20–30 per cent on hybrid schedules, and only 10–20 per cent on-site for essential operations. “The key principle should be we are not reducing work but changing where and when work is performed so that traffic does not reduce productivity,” he explained.

HR experts warned that forcing employees through hours of gridlock has serious consequences. Segun Adeyemi, a senior HR consultant, noted: “Forcing staff to sit in three to four hours of gridlock before starting their workday drastically erodes mental health, lowers output, and increases burnout”. Dr Yetunde Kanu, an organisational psychologist, added that “chronic commuting stress directly correlates with workforce absenteeism and rising health claims”. The Kara-OPIC corridor carries a massive volume of commercial vehicles and goods between Lagos, Ogun State, and other parts of the country. The prolonged gridlock trapped industrial haulage trucks, further straining supply chains and regional commerce.

The Kara Bridge crisis did not occur in isolation. Just days earlier, on September 4, 2026, a separate crash on the Long Bridge—part of the same expressway—claimed three lives and injured ten others. According to the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), a vehicle plunged from the Long Bridge into a ditch near Mikano, inward Lagos. The crash involved three vehicles: a Toyota bus, a Toyota Corolla, and a Mazda bus. 16 people were involved—12 males and 4 females. Ten sustained injuries, while three female adults were confirmed dead. Eyewitnesses attributed the crash to excessive speeding and loss of control. This followed an even deadlier incident on August 25, when seven people were killed in a multiple crash involving three vehicles around the Kara area.

Traffic and emergency agencies have been deployed along the corridor, including LASTMA (Lagos State Traffic Management Authority), FRSC (Federal Road Safety Corps), TRACE (Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps), the Nigeria Police Force, and LASEMA (Lagos State Emergency Management Agency). LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that recovery operations were coordinated to prevent secondary crashes and clear affected vehicles.

As of Wednesday morning, LASTMA reported that traffic was moving slowly from Otedola Bridge towards Berger and Kara, down to the OPIC turning. However, a significant backlog of vehicles continued to stretch beyond Long Bridge. The agency deployed additional personnel to the OPIC turning to manage the situation. Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, had previously urged motorists to plan their journeys and cooperate with traffic managers. He explained that the repair strategy was designed to minimise impact, with one half of the affected section closed at a time. Authorities have advised motorists to leave home earlier than usual, consider alternative routes where possible, cooperate with traffic officials, and avoid driving against traffic, which worsens congestion. For those able to avoid the Kara section entirely, authorities suggested the Ikorodu–Ogijo route as an alternative corridor between Lagos and Ogun State, depending on final destinations.

The Kara Bridge remains one of Nigeria’s most critical—and most vulnerable—transport arteries. While the current repairs are necessary for long-term safety, the crisis has exposed the fragility of a corridor operating at maximum capacity with minimal redundancy. For now, commuters along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway face a difficult two weeks. The question many are asking is not just when the repairs will finish, but whether Nigeria’s infrastructure planning can ever get ahead of the crises that keep repeating. As one frustrated motorist put it: “When will they fix it permanently?”

Kara Bridge Repairs, Multiple Crashes Trigger 14-Hour Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

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Gunmen Open Fire At Lagos Bus Stop, Kill NURTW Member, Injure Three

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Kamoru Omokoye

Gunmen Open Fire At Lagos Bus Stop, Kill NURTW Member, Injure Three

A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), identified as Kamoru Omokoye, popularly known as Zobo, has been shot dead at Abijo Bus Stop in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State.

Omokoye was reportedly attacked around 9am on Sunday by two men who arrived at the bus stop in an unregistered Lexus RX 350 before opening fire on him.

A police source who confirmed the incident said the victim was shot in the head during the attack. The assailants reportedly sped away immediately after the shooting.

Omokoye was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Epe, for treatment but was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.

Following the incident, detectives visited the scene and combed the area as part of efforts to identify and arrest those responsible for the Lagos bus stop shooting.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, also confirmed the incident, saying the command had commenced an investigation.

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While the police source described the attackers as suspected cultists, the exact motive for the killing has not been officially established.

An anti-cultism advocacy platform, Naija Confra, reported that Omokoye was sitting at a drinking spot near the bus stop when the attackers arrived and opened fire. The report said other people at the location fled as the gunmen shot at the gathering.

At least three other people were reportedly wounded in the shooting.

Omokoye was said to have previously worked around Awoyaya Bus Stop before moving to GRA Bus Stop. He was also reportedly the father of an eight-month-old child.

The latest incident has heightened concerns about violent attacks around transport corridors and public gathering points in parts of Lagos State, particularly where criminal or cult-related activities have previously been reported.

Police authorities have yet to announce any arrest in connection with the killing.

The investigation is expected to focus on identifying the attackers, establishing their motive and determining whether the killing was linked to a cult-related dispute, a transport-union conflict or another criminal motive.

Residents have also been urged to provide useful information to the police that could assist in identifying those responsible for the killing of the NURTW member.

Gunmen Open Fire At Lagos Bus Stop, Kill NURTW Member, Injure Three

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Ondo Air Tragedy: Soldiers, Families Among 32 Killed In NAF Crash

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Ondo Air Tragedy: Soldiers, Families Among 32 Killed In NAF Crash

Ondo Air Tragedy: Soldiers, Families Among 32 Killed In NAF Crash

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft has crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, killing all 32 people on board, including military personnel, family members and seven crew members.

The aircraft, an ATR-42, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it crashed into a swampy area opposite the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, on Monday morning.

The aircraft was reportedly travelling from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos on a routine military mission when communication with air traffic controllers was lost at about 9:13 a.m.

Efforts to re-establish contact with the aircraft reportedly failed before the aircraft disappeared from radar. Its wreckage was later located in the difficult-to-access swamp near the naval facility.

The victims included Nigerian military personnel and members of their families, with reports indicating that some of the family members were children returning to school. The presence of family members on the flight has added to the grief surrounding the Ondo plane crash.

The crash site, located in a swampy and waterlogged area, posed significant challenges to rescuers and recovery teams. Military personnel, emergency responders and local residents were involved in efforts to reach the wreckage and recover the victims.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa confirmed that no survivor had been found at the crash site. Responders reportedly recovered parts of the aircraft, military uniforms and identity cards from the area while efforts continued to retrieve the wreckage.

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The exact cause of the NAF aircraft crash remains unknown.

Early reports raised the possibility of adverse weather conditions, while another account suggested that the aircraft could have suffered a technical or mechanical problem. Neither explanation has been established as the cause of the crash, and officials have urged the public to await the outcome of the investigation.

The loss of communication between the aircraft and air traffic controllers is expected to form a major part of the investigation, alongside the aircraft’s maintenance history, technical condition, weather conditions, flight-control communications and data from the aircraft’s flight recorder.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation into the NAF plane crash, directing the Nigerian Air Force to establish what led to the tragedy.

Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the Nigerian Armed Forces, describing the incident as a painful loss to the country.

The President also declared three days of national mourning for the Air Force personnel killed in the crash and directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country.

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has indicated its readiness to provide technical assistance to the military investigation if requested. Because the aircraft was operated by the military, the primary investigation is expected to be handled by the Nigerian Air Force.

Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s flight data, maintenance records and communication with air traffic control to determine what happened during the final stages of the flight.

The Nigerian Air Force is also expected to release the names of the deceased after completing the process of notifying their families.

The Ondo NAF crash is one of the deadliest recent military aviation accidents in Nigeria and has renewed concerns about the safety, maintenance and operational readiness of military aircraft.

For now, attention remains focused on the recovery of the victims, identification of those who died and the investigation that will determine how the aircraft carrying 32 people came down in the Ondo wetlands.

Ondo Air Tragedy: Soldiers, Families Among 32 Killed In NAF Crash

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Court Orders NDLEA to Produce Enugu Airport Duty List in Abba Kyari Cocaine Trial

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Court Orders NDLEA to Produce Enugu Airport Duty List in Abba Kyari Cocaine Trial
Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari

Court Orders NDLEA to Produce Enugu Airport Duty List in Abba Kyari Cocaine Trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to produce the duty roster of personnel deployed to Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on January 19, 2022—the day a cocaine consignment central to the Abba Kyari drug trial was intercepted. The ruling marks a significant development in a case that has drawn national attention and raised questions about airport security and inter-agency coordination in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Monday during the continuation of the trial of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and four other suspended officers of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT). The defendants are facing charges of alleged tampering with 21.35kg of cocaine and are standing trial on counts of conspiracy and obstruction in the illegal dealing and importation of the substance. They have all pleaded not guilty.

Julius Mba, counsel to Kyari and Inspector Simon Agirgba, told the court that the defence had filed a subpoena duces tecum—a legal order requiring a person or organisation to produce specific documents or evidence. The subpoena directs the NDLEA boss to present certified true copies of the duty roster for personnel deployed to the Enugu airport on the date in question. According to Mba, the document is essential to help the defence establish its case and demonstrate how the cocaine consignment allegedly passed through airport security.

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The court session also addressed the absence of the defence’s second witness, John Nwonke, who was expected to continue his testimony. Nwonke, who had been subpoenaed to appear, was not in court. His lawyers presented a letter dated October 2 stating that he was ill and unable to attend. The development prompted a sharp exchange between the defence and prosecution.

NDLEA counsel Joseph Sunday strongly opposed the adjournment request, urging the court to foreclose Nwonke’s evidence. He argued that the defence had failed to comply with an earlier order directing the witness to appear on Monday. Sunday also questioned the medical letter, noting that it did not disclose the nature of the illness or the hospital where Nwonke was receiving treatment. He told the court the prosecution was “not aware of any subpoena,” adding: “We don’t conduct trial by ambush.”

In his ruling, Justice Nwite declined to foreclose the witness’s evidence immediately. While he observed that Nwonke’s letter was not convincing enough to justify the adjournment, he adjourned the case until October 7, 2026, in the interest of justice. The judge warned that failure of the witness to appear on that date would lead to the foreclosure of his testimony. He also directed counsel to the first to fifth defendants to submit the names of witnesses they intend to call before the next hearing.

The trial had resumed after an indefinite adjournment in May due to Justice Nwite’s shortlisting for elevation to the Court of Appeal. The defence has been calling witnesses in an effort to establish that NDLEA operatives facilitated the passage of convicted drug traffickers through airport security. In a video played in court in March, convicts Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne alleged that their photographs were sent ahead to NDLEA officers at the airport to ensure they were cleared without proper screening. The testimony forms part of the defence’s broader argument that the defendants were not the architects of the alleged obstruction.

Kyari and his co-defendants—Sunday Ubua, Bawa James, Simon Agirgba, and John Nuhu—remain at the centre of one of the most closely watched corruption and drug trafficking trials in Nigeria’s recent history. The case has sparked widespread debate about accountability within Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in combating drug crime.

The case was adjourned to October 7, 2026, for further defence proceedings.

Court Orders NDLEA to Produce Enugu Airport Duty List in Abba Kyari Cocaine Trial

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