Why crashes on Otedola Bridge — Lagos govt

By Olasunkanmi Akoni The Lagos State Government has absolved Otedola Bridge of any structural or engineering defects, attributing the recurring fatal crashes on the corridor to reckless driving, driver indiscipline, and overloaded heavy-duty trucks. The State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, made the remark during the annual media parley organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation held at Ikeja.

The parley formed part of the updates presented by transportation agencies at the media parley, with officials outlining plans to improve public transport capacity, strengthen road safety, expand water transportation and make vehicle-related services more accessible. ​Refuting public speculation regarding the safety of the bridge’s design, Osiyemi revealed that a joint inspection conducted by team leads from both the Federal Ministry of Works and the Lagos State Government confirmed the integrity of the structure.

“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,” Osiyemi stated. Addressing the menace of unroadworthy and overloaded articulated trucks, Osiyemi expressed concern over indiscriminate parking along major corridors, noting that such practices obstruct traffic flow and endanger lives. ​To curb infrastructure degradation and enhance road safety, the commissioner announced plans to deploy weighbridges across strategic locations in the state.

The weighbridges will monitor truck weights and enforce compliance with legal limits. ​Osiyemi also warned motorists against speeding on corridors currently under construction, specifically highlighting the ongoing coastal road project. He urged drivers not to treat active construction zones as high-speed expressways and advised patience to prevent avoidable collisions. ​The state government reaffirmed that reducing road fatalities will require a multi-faceted approach combining driver discipline, stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, vehicle roadworthiness checks, and the upcoming weighbridge monitoring system. ​Also speaking at the parley, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Olalekan Bakare-Oki, stressed the enormous pressure commercial transportation places on the state’s road infrastructure. ​Bakare-Oki noted that over 60 per cent of all cargo transported in Nigeria originates from or moves through Lagos, resulting in heavy articulated truck traffic.

“While indiscriminate movement and congestion caused by heavy-duty vehicles significantly accelerate road wear and increase crash risks, human error and excessive speeding remain the leading causes of crashes along the Otedola Bridge corridor,” he said. Recall that there have been incessant road crashes on the Otedola bridge along Lagos Ibadan Expressway, which often results into avoidable loss of lives and property.

Consequently, motorists and residents have called on both Federal and State Governments’ intervention for a lasting solution that would address the situation.