Federal Road Safety Corps Lagos Sector Commander, Oseni Hamzat admits steepness of bridge but says road wide enough if drivers comply with speed limit, road decorum.
What, in your opinion, are the reasons for the incessant auto crashes on Otedola Bridge?
The problem on that axis is on two fronts. There is the Otedola Bridge and there is the Kara Bridge where they are currently working on the expansion joints. And that calls for some of the unrests we are experiencing on that corridor, especially around that Kara Bridge/OPIC area. That’s why people are complaining of heavy traffic gridlock. But of course, there is no pain without gain. When they were constructing or doing rehabilitation works on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, people cried and lamented; I was sector commander, Lagos-Ibadan then. But the same people are now enjoying the benefits. However, there are vandals on those bridges, especially Kara. Do you know that they carted away some of the irons and some other things? When I inspected it, I found out that the problem was not just of the effect of vehicles. Yes, there are overloaded vehicles that created some lacuna or problems, but vandals are there too.
Let’s talk about the Otedola Bridge, which has seemingly become a death trap?
I’d say human factor. Yes, there is a bit of engineering issue because of the steepness of the road, but it is wide enough for safe driving. However, human activities and our tendency not to follow rules, speed limit violation and all that are serious contributors. And this may be as a result of some vehicles that don’t have enough of compression. Some of them, when they descend the hill, they want to use extra force to emerge through the slope. Mind you in that process, the slightest distraction would cause a derail, loss of control, and you see such vehicles capsizing or landing on their side, and affecting some other oncoming vehicles. These are some of the things we have observed overtime. If everybody drives the way they should, obey traffic rules, that road would be managed properly. And if we’re talking of correcting the engineering issue, a bridge is not something that can be reconstructed overnight, especially on a highway like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. A minute of road closure or obstruction on that road will immediately amount to over a kilometer of traffic gridlock. So the drivers should change their attitude and be more careful and responsible, especially when they approach that part of the road.
But be that as it may, there is an ongoing collaboration – you know that part of Kara falls into Ogun state. Last Sunday, we held a meeting with Lagos and Ogun states on how to collaborate and ensure that that those issues are taken care of. Tomorrow (this past Thursday), we, the FRSC Lagos/Ogun, the controller of works, Lagos and Ogun, and some other stakeholders are going for physical inspection of that area. You can see that we’re not just sitting quiet doing nothing. We are not happy with the situation; the traffic gridlock is affecting us as well. We use the same road, we have appointments too, and you can’t violate traffic rules because you are officials.
We’ve also noticed that the accidents on this bridge almost always involve trucks and articulated vehicles; is there no way these truck drivers can be educated to take appropriate measures so that we can avoid these kinds of incidences?
We do, we do more of advocacy, but it just means that it’s not enough yet. We need to heighten it; we need to go to their sources, to let them know more of these things. We also do more of checking. It might interest you to know that we have met them at their depots on several occasions. But these are wet cargoes. For the dry cargoes, the inspections are being done at the various ports, which is not comprehensive enough. So, by the time we are done with these collaborative efforts, you will see that we would be able to forge ahead and take care of these things.
There is also the related issue of traffic gridlock, how are you handling that?
If human beings take care in how they handle situations like that, definitely, there would be reduction in such incidences. Let us assume a crash happens; there is something we also need to do to forestall people from driving against traffic, which our people are want to do, and which contributes to the heavy traffic gridlock our people experience. Unabated driving against traffic has a ripple effect and it can lead to total lockdown of the entire Lagos State, like it happened two Fridays ago. So part of what we’re recommending are heavy-duty machines or cranes that can be immediately deployed to remove some of these vehicles when these incidences happen.
How about the FRSC stationing men to warn drivers of the steeply road ahead, so that even if they didn’t know or have forgotten, they could be reminded and they can take precaution?
It is quite possible, but it is more important that drivers understand what they need to do. Even if we deploy one million officers to warn them, a stupid driver would run at a suicidal speed that he would ignore even the men standing. That is the truth.
Do you have a data of the amount of incidences that we have been having on that axis as per certain time?
Yes, it can be generated because we have all the crashes on that axis documented, but I will need the permission from my national headquarters in Abuja.
One person has been confirmed dead following a multiple-vehicle crash involving articulated trucks at Otedola Bridge inward Secretariat on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, causing severe traffic disruption and triggering an emergency multi-agency response.
The main crash involved two heavy-duty trailers, one carrying sand and the other loaded with granite, which reportedly collided while competing for right of way. The impact trapped the driver of the sand-laden trailer, who sustained fatal injuries.
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Rescue Team, who were on routine patrol at the time, responded promptly and extricated the victim before handing him over to the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS). He was rushed to the General Hospital, Ikeja, where he was confirmed dead. The driver of the second trailer was rescued alive and did not sustain any injuries.
In a related incident, another trailer fully loaded with flour overturned about 50 metres away from the initial crash site, further worsening traffic congestion along the already affected corridor.
Security operatives from the Alausa Police Division were deployed to the scene to maintain order, secure the area and support rescue and recovery operations.
The combined incidents reportedly obstructed nearly 80 per cent of the roadway, forcing traffic authorities to divert motorists travelling into Lagos from the Mowe, Kara Bridge and Redemption Camp axis through the Ojodu–Olole route, connecting Agidingbi, Coca-Cola, Secretariat and 7-Up towards Gbagada and Ojota.
Speaking on the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, described the crashes as “deeply regrettable and largely preventable,” attributing them to impatience, indiscipline and failure to yield by drivers, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles.
He stressed that strict compliance with traffic regulations and mutual courtesy among motorists are critical to preventing avoidable loss of lives, while extending condolences to the family of the deceased driver.
In a statement, Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, said the incidents underscored the dangers of reckless driving and disregard for traffic rules on major highways.
He said, preliminary findings indicate that impatience and a struggle for right of way by articulated vehicle drivers led to this unfortunate loss of life. LASTMA urges all motorists, especially truck and trailer operators, to exercise caution, professionalism and strict adherence to traffic laws to prevent needless tragedies.
He also commended the swift and coordinated response of LASTMA operatives, LASAMBUS personnel and security agencies for effectively managing the emergency and restoring order on the expressway.
Tragedy struck along the Otedola Bridge, inward Berger–Ojodu corridor of Lagos, on Wednesday, following a violent collision between two heavy-duty trucks, leaving one driver critically injured.
The incident, which occurred involved a 14-tyre Scania truck loaded with tonnes of wheat and a 6-tyre Iveco mini-truck carrying cartons of Gala sausage rolls.
LASTMA said both drivers were locked in a reckless struggle for the Right of Way (ROW) before the fatal impact occurred.
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), led by the Director of the Incident Management and Enforcement Unit, Mr. Akeem Adeoshun, swiftly arrived at the scene to conduct rescue operations.
According to Adeoshun, the driver of the 14-tyre Scania truck sustained severe injuries to legs and head.
“Our foremost duty in any rescue mission is the preservation of human life,” he said, confirming that the victim was carefully extricated from the mangled vehicle with assistance from officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Police Force before being rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment.
He added that the magnitude of the crash necessitated the temporary closure of the expressway from Otedola Bridge inward Berger to allow for safe recovery operations. Rescue personnel and heavy-duty machinery were deployed to transload the truck’s contents and clear the wreckage. Normal traffic flow was restored after the successful evacuation.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare–Oki, condemned the crash, describing it as “an avoidable tragedy that should never have transpired.”
He lamented the increasing recklessness among truck drivers who engage in dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful competition for the Right of Way, noting that such indiscipline continues to endanger lives and disrupt order on Lagos roads.
A major traffic gridlock has hit the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after an articulated truck overturned and spilled its contents near the Otedola Bridge, heading toward the Toll gate.
The accident, which occurred around 1 p.m., blocked nearly 80 percent of the roadway, causing a severe backlog of vehicles stretching as far as the Kara axis.
Emergency response teams, including officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), are currently at the scene working to clear the obstruction and ease the flow of traffic.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, urged motorists to remain calm and patient while recovery efforts continue.
“We need maximum cooperation from all road users to ensure the situation is resolved quickly,” he said.
“There is a backlog from Otedola Bridge to Berger inward Secretariat, but our officers are on scene managing the situation effectively.
“Other officers are also on ground doing the needful.”
The incident is coming weeks after a gas-laden tanker keeled over under the bridge, sparking an explosion that killed two and injured six.
The fire outbreak affected nearby structures, including a church, a residential house, and a mechanic yard, causing significant damage in the surrounding area.
A routine Tuesday night on March 11, turned into a disaster as a 30-tonne gas tanker exploded under Otedola Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, killing four people and injuring six. The incident, marking one of the major accidents on the notorious bridge, destroyed houses, businesses, vehicles and livelihoods. SAMUEL OAMEN reports how the bridge has been the site of multiple accidents, including a 2018 explosion that killed 12 people and burned 54 vehicles. Safety experts blame systemic failures, poor regulation, and negligence, rather than supernatural causes.
The dual carriage Otedola Bridge along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway means different things to different travellers. For those heading out of Lagos, it is the gateway out of the bustling city, while for those returning from near or distant journeys, it is a sign of arrival. The sight of the bridge and the nearby statue of three elderly Lagosians present a welcoming sight and give the traveller a sense of arrival.
However, it also carries a foreboding, especially for those who know its history as a site for vehicular accidents, especially gasoline carrying vehicles and other articulated vehicles. It is for this reason that the recent gas tanker accident at the same spot/area on March 11 hit home really hard.
Litany of deaths
As usual, it left in its trail, death, destruction and tears unending. Four persons died while six others sustained injuries. Several vehicles and buildings were also burnt.
Olaleye, an automobile mechanic at one of the repair shops under the Otedola Bridge lost his life to the fire while trying to save cars from the fire outbreak.
Dotun Oladipo, chief executive officer (CEO) of Premium Eagle Media Limited, publishers of Eagle Online, had planned to meet with him at the repair shop to pick up his wife’s car.
Oladipo expressed both pain and gratitude—pain over the tragic loss of Olaleye, a hardworking and honest auto mechanic who single-handedly raised his children after losing his wife five years ago. He was also highly respected by his clients, including Oladipo himself.
On the night of the tragedy, Oladipo was just 10 seconds away from where Mr. Olaleye was when the fire broke out. He recalled how a slight delay—buying water on the way—ultimately saved him, his wife, and his daughter from being at the scene.
“When we eventually set out, we discovered we needed to buy drinking water for the house. Mrs. Oladipo and Miss Oladipo said we should buy it close to the office in Ogba area because each bottle was N400 cheaper than the price close to the house. That would save us some cool N2,000. I said no, Mr. Olaleye was waiting for us.
“However, as I zoomed past a supermarket, my wife said let’s buy the water. So I stopped, and reversed. We spent about 10 minutes there.”
As they approached the mechanic village, Oladipo was on a call with Mr. Olaleye, who had parked both his car and Oladipo’s wife’s car near the entrance. Just moments before reaching him, his wife noticed a truck that had lost control. Instinctively, Oladipo swerved towards CMD Road, seconds before the truck crashed, spilling gas and triggering a massive explosion.
In a desperate attempt to warn Mr. Olaleye, Oladipo called him, but the call went unanswered. Meanwhile, Mr. Olaleye had told his apprentices to flee as he stayed back to try and save his customer’s car. Unfortunately, he did not make it out alive. His body was later found lying face down.
Oladipo described the late Olaleye as a meticulous and knowledgeable mechanic who took great pride in his work. With deep sorrow, he lamented that that last call to save him went unanswered.
Banker and wife killed in fire
A staff of a new generation bank in Lagos, Dozie Okoye and his new wife, Joan, a nurse with a promising career in the United States of America also lost their lives in the explosion.
The couple, who tied the knots as recently as February 22, 2025 in Lekki Phase 1, was laid to rest on Saturday, March 22, 2025 – exactly one month after their wedding.
They were said to be returning home when they were caught in the inferno, having been completely trapped in their car, which was right behind the tanker that exploded.
The couples’ phones had reportedly gone off suddenly with nobody able reach them, setting off apprehension amongst their friends who eventually tracked them to the Burns Center in Gbagada and Yaba Mortuary, where their charred remains were finally found on the evening of Wednesday February 25 after days of frantic search.
A family member told WhirlwindNews that the wife was due to go back to her base in the USA, while the husband started work the Tuesday after the wedding.
According to the family member, the wife had left her father’s house at about 4.00pm to meet her husband on his way back from work. That was the last anybody heard from them, until the next morning when he did not report for work at the office.
Known for his punctuality at work, his colleagues started calling his line without success.
“At this point they got in contact with his relation to know if there was any information about him. That was how the search started. With news of the tanker explosion the previous day, they extended the search to scene of the explosion where his burnt car was found.”
Some notable accidents on the bridge since 2017
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on June 28, 2018, when a tanker fully loaded with petroleum products fell, leaked and exploded killing 12 people while 54 vehicles were burnt. The aftermath was so devastating, that DNA analysis had to be performed with samples of victims’ bodies matched with those of their relatives to ascertain their identities. Just two days later, another accident at the same spot left nine people injured. Multiple crashes followed, including diesel tankers falling off bridges in 2019, fuel-laden tankers overturning in October 2019, and a mass transit bus fire that claimed one life and affected ten vehicles. The pattern continued into 2020, with a Truck-SUV collision killing two people. A May 21 crash left one dead and seven injured, and several other incidents involving tankers, buses, and cars.
The accidents continued in 2021 and 2022, with multiple fatalities and vehicle collisions, including a May 28, 2021 accident that killed one person and damaged five vehicles. On May 27, 2022, there was a fire outbreak caused by a tanker crash. Another fatal truck accident in September 2023 resulted in one death and significant traffic disruption. However, there were no major tanker accidents on the bridge in 2024, raising questions about whether there had been improved safety measures or it just was sheer luck.
Negligence, lack of proper safety measures responsible – expert
While many believe that witches and other diabolic forces are behind the unending accidents at the bridge, a fire safety expert believes that negligence and lack of proper safety precautions by drivers are the major causes.
Antonia Beri, a veteran fire safety specialist and founder of Safety Consultants and Solutions Provider (CCSP), described the incident as a preventable tragedy caused by systemic failures.
She questioned how a vehicle carrying explosive chemicals was able to evade oversight from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), tasked with enforcing the Petroleum Industry Act’s safety standards.
“Who loads a tanker like that without a plate? It’s a question for the NUPRC and the company with 13 locations nationwide,” she said, noting that the firm’s size suggests it should lead on safety, not falter.
She tied the incident to broader failures: corruption, untrained regulators, and unenforced laws.
“The company has a compliance officer, yet brakes failed on an unlicensed truck,” Beri said, dismissing spiritual myths about the bridge.
“It’s not cursed—it’s brake failure and unfit vehicles, not normal elsewhere.”
She cited a 2018 stakeholder forum after a fire burned 54 cars on the same Otedola Bridge, where unregistered trucks were banned—a rule flouted here.
Although the Lagos State’s Transportation Commissioner confirmed that the truck ignored a “No Truck Allowed” sign, promising crackdown; Beri, however, argued that enforcement remains weak.
“Weigh stations should reroute heavy tankers—30 tonnes shouldn’t ply that bridge without checks,” she urged, noting that the crash’s escalation reflected poor emergency preparedness.
“The first fire truck ran out of water; the next arrived 20 minutes later. Five minutes, and it’s over.”
She advocated for hydrant lines, spill containment within five minutes, and evacuation routes—none of which is present at Otedola Bridge or anywhere near it.
Business owners lament devastating losses
A mechanic at the workshop, Adekola Kosoko, recounted the harrowing experience, saying, “The tanker was coming from Magodo Road. We heard the driver shouting ‘No break, no break’ and all of a sudden, we heard a deafening sound followed by fire.”
“One of our colleagues here died. He was driving out when it happened and in an attempt to drive back to the workshop, the fire caught up with him and burned him in the car,” Kosoko said, his voice shaking with emotion.
The hospital, De-Twist Dental Specialist, was also affected by the fire. A doctor at the hospital, still in shock, managed to utter, “It was a narrow escape for me.”
One survivor, George Uchenna, a driver, recounted his narrow escape.
“I parked with my boy when the tanker fell. We managed to run, but about ten bus drivers at the scene didn’t make it,” he said.
A victim of the fire incident and journalist, Mr. Abiola Ismaeel, said his vehicle was among those destroyed.
“My vehicle (Peugeot 607) was among those consumed by the fire.
“I brought it here three days ago for my mechanic to fix, and I am now confused. I do not know what to do,” Ismaeel said.
Another mechanic, Tosin, revealed that a food vendor’s gas explosion worsened the fire, as it engulfed four parked cars.
Six tricycles and an entire shopping plaza were also destroyed, while scavengers took advantage of the disaster, sifting through debris for scrap metal.
A passer-by expressed frustration at the scene, he said; “People lost their lives and property, yet scavengers are here picking what they can sell. It’s painful.”
While many counted their losses, a nearby block industry remained untouched.
A worker at the site, who requested anonymity, said: “When I arrived this morning, I saw the damage, but nothing happened to our side.”
Glimmer of hope
But amidst the destruction, there was a glimmer of hope. The Redeemed Christian Church of God, located just a few meters away from the bridge, was miraculously spared even when the adjoining buildings were all affected.
Paul Samuel, a member of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Fulfillment Centre, confirmed that while their church building was intact, its gate, security quarters and a power-generating set were consumed in the inferno.
Oluwatoyin Akinola, another member of the church, described the experience as “beyond human reasoning.”
“I was called to bring the key to the church’s bus. So I was here that night and I saw the fire. I can’t explain how our church was spared by the fire.
“It’s just the hand of God. It’s beyond human reasoning, that’s all I can say,” Akinola stated, raising her hands in thanksgiving to God.”
Reps urge Fed Govt to conduct comprehensive technical audit
The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately conduct a comprehensive technical audit of the bridge within 30 days, focusing on its gradient, descent, and structural vulnerabilities and recommend modifications, including gradient reduction, reinforced safety barriers, and emergency escape lanes—for implementation within 12 months.
In a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, the House approved the allocation of emergency funds for immediate repairs to damaged sections of the bridge within 90 days, pending the completion of a full redesign.
The House also asked the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to establish permanent weighbridges and vehicle inspection stations along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway within 60 days, to ensure that all tankers comply with legal weight limits and braking system standards, with defaulters subject to vehicle impoundment and prosecution.
The House also called for the enforcement of nationwide policy requiring biannual action of all fuel tankers, digitally monitored, to eliminate mechanically unsafe vehicles from Nigerian roads within six months.
It asked the Federal Ministry of Transportation to develop a mandatory training and certification programme for tanker drivers within six months, with a focus on handling heavy-duty vehicles on steep gradients and emergency response procedures.
Need for urgent reform
In response to the tragedy, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the Ministry of Transportation is intensifying enforcement on the movement of hazardous materials, strengthening regulatory compliance, and implementing enhanced safety measures to prevent future occurrences.
Fire hydrant lines and spill containment systems should be installed to ensure that any hazardous leaks can be controlled within five minutes. Additionally, well-marked evacuation routes must be created along the bridge, as highlighted by Antonia Beri.
To prevent accidents caused by over-speeding, speed bumps should be installed on the bridge, compelling vehicles—especially heavy trucks—to slow down.
Furthermore, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) must enforce regulations ensuring that tankers do not carry their full capacity. This precaution will help prevent spills, particularly when descending the bridge. Diesel tankers, in particular, pose a significant risk, as spilled fuel can make the road surface slippery, increasing the chances of accidents.
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Effect of frequent fire explosions on Climate
A 2024 report on the effect of frequent fire explosions on climate reveals that these incidents release toxic gases and particulate matter into the atmosphere, including carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur oxides (SOₓ), and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ). These pollutants contribute significantly to global warming, as CO₂ is a major greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, while NOₓ and SOₓ contribute to acid rain and the formation of secondary pollutants like ground-level ozone, which harms both human health and the ecosystems.
Large-scale fires, particularly in areas with dense vegetation or oceanic carbon sinks disrupt natural carbon sequestration processes. Forests and oceans act as major carbon sinks, absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere. When fires burn through forests or damage marine ecosystems, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, increasing global temperatures and accelerating climate change.
Furthermore, fire-related accidents leave behind hazardous waste that can infiltrate water bodies and soil, leading to long-term contamination. The deposition of soot and other particulates onto glaciers and polar ice caps can reduce their reflectivity (albedo effect), causing faster melting and contributing to rising sea levels. This environmental imbalance further intensifies climate-related disasters, such as extreme weather events, prolonged droughts, and disruptions to natural ecosystems.
In addition to direct emissions and contamination, frequent fire explosions also disrupt local and global weather patterns. The heat and pollutants from large-scale fires can lead to changes in atmospheric circulation, influencing cloud formation, precipitation patterns, and even triggering localised climate anomalies, such as heat waves or storms in affected regions.
SIR: Like other big cities, Lagos has many ugly spots, but when it comes to danger zones, no spot beats Otedola Bridge’s notoriety. Located a few meters from the Lagos end of the boundary between Lagos and Ogun states on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the bridge has recorded several disasters and fatalities that have made the ground around it blood-soaked.
For decades, the spot of about 50 metres has been painted regularly with the blood of the young and old. It has nothing to do with the work of the demons. It is simply a consequence of the road conditions, engineering defects, and environmental factors in addition to the carelessness of some drivers. The inherent hazards on that stretch include cliffs, sharp curves, heavy traffic, and poor road designs. All these make it difficult for tanker drivers especially to maneuver.
Series of accidents have continued to occur on the spot but that of June 28, 2018, was more horrific. Twelve persons were roasted in the fire that erupted when a petrol tanker fell and exploded that sad Thursday evening, in addition to 54 vehicles that were burnt.
Otedola Bridge now occupies a space among the world’s list of bridges with records of regular disasters like George Washington Bridge (New York City, USA), Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA), Tsing Ma Bridge (Hong Kong), Seohae Bridge (South Korea) and Rio-Niteroi Bridge (Brazil), among others.
Lagos State seems to have only mastered the response template of sending rescue missions each time a disaster strikes there. The reactive effort is limited to putting out fires and managing traffic. The state seems not to know what to do to prevent accidents on that spot. The emphasis has been on rescuing and not prevention. This is grossly unsatisfactory and indefensible.
It is expected that the Federal Ministry of Works, as the owner, should take concrete actions to effect corrections on the defective engineering design on that section and deal with other sundry causes of regular crashes. But characteristic of slow institutional response to serious matters, calamities on the bridge seem not alarming enough to warrant an emergency response from appropriate authorities. One would have also thought that the ongoing expansion reconstruction on the Expressway by Julius Berger should be used to correct whatever defects exist on that section of the road.
A remedial approach is urgently needed like it was done for the Millau Viaduct Bridge (France), Tacoma-style retrofit (Canada), Tyne Bridge (UK), Story Bridge (Australia), and even in Maputo-Katembe Bridge (Mozambique) in 2019.
The Ojo end of the Lagos – Ibadan-Expressway was plagued with similar experiences of recurring road accidents, but after the construction work and the erection of a massive roundabout at the site of the frequent fatal accidents by the government, the accidents gradually ceased. It is hopeful that if the same responsive action would be taken towards the situation at Otedola Bridge, especially along the steep spots in addition to other safety measures, sanity would return to the site.
There have also not been enough advocacies from stakeholders expected to show more interest on the road. The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Federal Road Safety Commission, and civil society organizations have not shown enough interest in the calamity taking place on the Bridge by constantly drawing the attention of the authorities to it. A convocation of stakeholders on this very important artery road that connects the nation’s commercial centre to the rest of the country is very important.
The Nigerian media also do not see the disasters on the Otedola Bridge beyond the breaking news. The havoc on that Bridge qualifies it to be developmental news deserving of the media’s searchlight until concerted and concrete action is taken. The agenda-setting role of the media in this hot zone is required.
Stakeholders have in the past, identified several causes of accidents on the Otedola Bridge. According to them, the main causes include the overloading of tankers, speeding, poor road design, lack of enforcement, and inadequate maintenance. To address these issues, stakeholders recommended measures for the reconstruction of the bridge and the implementation of weighbridges to prevent overloaded trucks from using the bridge, among others.
For now, stopping death on Otedola Bridge should be a project for all.
Business owners and residents of CMD Road around Otedola Bridge, Lagos, who were affected by the recent inferno have cried out over the inhuman treatment and disregard for their losses they incurred.
No fewer than 10 people died and property worth millions of naira were destroyed during the fire.
They accused the gas company, whose truck caused the accident, of insensitivity because it failed to sympathise with them.
A mechanic said the company had resumed full operation after the incident without showing empathy to the victims and had also failed to locate and sympathise with the families of those who lost their loved ones to the incident.
A trader in the area, Mr Adewale Morufu, said: “This is sad, we lost vehicles and over 10 lives, yet no sympathy from the company, whose vehicle caused the incident.
“The Lagos State Government has also not done anything about it, which is a signal that our lives mean nothing to them.”
Antonia Beri, a veteran fire safety specialist and founder of Safety Consultants and Solutions Provider (CCSP), has urged urgent regulatory and infrastructural reforms following the March 11 gas truck explosion near Otedola Bridge, which claimed two lives and destroyed multiple properties.
Speaking on Arise Morning Show, Beri described the incident—where an unregistered 30-tonne gas truck crashed and triggered a fire that consumed two buildings, including a Redeemed Christian Church of God parish, and four vehicles—as a preventable tragedy caused by systemic failures.
She emphasised that the explosion, which occurred at 8:08 PM, marked the 24th major incident at Otedola Bridge, a notorious hotspot for deadly crashes over the years.
“Fundamental preventive measures have been ignored by regulators and the industry,” she stated, pointing to the truck’s missing registration plate as a glaring violation.
She questioned how a vehicle carrying explosive chemicals evaded oversight from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), tasked with enforcing the Petroleum Industry Act’s safety standards.
“Who loads a tanker like that without a plate? It’s a question for the NUPRC and the company with 13 locations nationwide,” she said, noting the firm’s size suggests it should lead on safety, not falter.
The expert tied the incident to broader failures: corruption, untrained regulators, and unenforced laws.
“The company has a compliance officer, yet brakes failed on an unlicensed truck,” Beri said, dismissing spiritual myths about the bridge.
“It’s not cursed—it’s brake failure and unfit vehicles, not normal elsewhere.” She cited a 2018 stakeholder forum after a fire burned 54 cars on the same Otedola Bridge, where unregistered trucks were banned—a rule flouted here.
Lagos State’s Transportation Commissioner confirmed the truck ignored a “No Truck Allowed” sign, prompting a promised crackdown, but Beri argued enforcement remains weak.
For Beri, prevention demands action beyond rhetoric.
“Weigh stations should reroute heavy tankers—30 tonnes shouldn’t ply that bridge without checks,” she urged, noting the crash’s escalation reflected poor emergency preparedness.
“The first fire truck ran out of water; the next arrived 20 minutes later. Five minutes, and it’s over.”
She advocated for hydrant lines, spill containment within five minutes, and evacuation routes—none present at Otedola.
“Where do you evacuate to? There’s no master plan,” she said, critiquing Nigeria’s infrastructure gaps against World Bank standards.
The human cost—a mechanic, Rotimi Adeleye, died saving a customer’s car—underscored her call for accountability. “No class-action lawsuits have followed these 24 incidents,” Beri noted, surprised the church hasn’t sued.
“In 2018, we talked. Now, a company offers to ‘care for kids’ instead of facing shutdown.” She contrasted this with a January 2025 Niger State explosion, where fuel scooping killed dozens, and the government ran awareness ads.
“Telling the poor not to scoop fuel won’t work without spill response,” she argued. “Government must own containment, not citizens.”
“Laws exist, but implementation doesn’t. Shut down violators, build hydrants, weigh trucks, or I’ll be back discussing the next fire.”
The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately conduct a comprehensive technical audit of Otedola Bridge in Lagos within 30 days, focusing on its gradient, descent, and structural vulnerabilities and recommend modifications including gradient reduction, reinforced safety barriers, and emergency escape lanes—for implementation within 12 months.
In a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, the House approve the allocation of emergency funds for immediate repairs to damaged sections of Otedola Bridge within 90 days, pending the completion of a full redesign.
The House also asked the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to establish permanent weighbridges and vehicle inspection stations along the Lagos badan expressway within 60 days, to ensure that all tankers comply with legal weight limits and braking system standards, with defaulters subject to vehicle impoundment and prosecution.
The House also called for the enforcement of nationwide policy requiring biannual action of all fuel tankers, digitally monitored, to eliminate mechanically unsafe vehicles from Nigerian roads within six months.
It asked the Federal Ministry of Transportation to develop a mandatory training and certification program for tanker drivers within six months, with a focus on handling heavy-duty vehicles on steep gradients and emergency response procedures.
Whingan had informed the House that on March 11, 2025, at approximately 8:00 p.m., a petrol tanker overturned and exploded on Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-lbadan Expressway, resulting in a devastating inferno that destroyed vehicles, properties, and caused severe traffic disruptions on this: ‘critical ‘transport corridor, with the full extent of ‘casualties and losses yet to be determined.
According to him, this tragedy is the latest in a series of fatal accidents on Otedola Bridge, including, adding that on June 28, 2018, a tanker fire killed at least 122 people and incinerated over 50 vehicles.
He said that in Novernber 2019, ‘October 2020, and March 2021, Multiple incidents of tanker crashés and explosions were established along Otedola Bridge.
He said that Investigations and anaiyses have identified multiple causes of these frequent accidents, including engineering defects leading to steep, gradient and sharp descent of Otedola Bridge’ placing excessive strain on the braking systems of heavy-duty vehicles, increasing the risk of brake failure and loss of control
Other causes he said include mechanical failures, including incidents of brake malfunctions, burst tires, and vehicle overloading—as witnessed in the 2018 and 2019 tanker disastersare linked to poor vehicle maintenance and regulatory failures.
Others are human errors arising from. wreckless driving, excessive speeding, and inadequate training of tanker operators further exacerbate the risks posed by the bridge’s challenging terrain as well as systemic Neglect leading to qeak enforcement of vehicle safety regulations, failure fo restrict tanker movements despite previous policy commitments, and lack of necessary infrastructure upgrades have allowed these preventable disasters to persist.
He said the government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other relevant agencies, bears a constitutional duty to ensure the safety of road users, yet Otedola Bridge remains an example of infrastructural and regulatory failure.
