Gridlock leaves motorists, commuters stranded on Benin-Lagos Expressway

Motorists and commuters were stranded for over three hours between Ovia Bridge and Okada Junction along the Lagos-Benin Expressway due to an early morning gridlock on Sunday.

When PUNCH Online visited the axis of the highway, most of the stranded vehicles were articulated vehicles whose drivers had hoped to leave Benin early in the morning and get to their destinations in good time.

Some vehicles broke down due to the gridlock, while an accident along the route also contributed to the traffic congestion.

Some of the drivers attributed the gridlock to impatience and the parking of vehicles along the roadside by other drivers who were still sleeping in their vehicles early in the morning.

They also said the Okada axis of the road had become notorious for gridlock due to a bad portion of the road close to the Tipper Garage.

One of the drivers, who gave his name as Akanni, said it was unfortunate that his colleagues still found it difficult to adhere to the rules guiding their profession.

“Imagine drivers parking on the roadside, sleeping and not waking up on time to continue their journey, thereby contributing to the gridlock,” he added.

Another driver, who gave his name as Chukwu, said there had been a traffic jam on Ovia Bridge at about 2 am on Sunday, prompting him to sleep at the bypass close to Oluku.

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He, however, said he was surprised to encounter another gridlock after passing through the Ovia Bridge without hassles.

He blamed the government for allowing his colleagues to become lawless road users, noting that government agencies, especially the Federal Road Safety Corps, must ensure motorists drive safely and obey traffic rules.

He also called on the Edo State Government to repair the bad portion of the road to enhance vehicular and human movement.

“Everything boils down to the government. Their agencies must enforce the law while the repair of the bad portion of the road should also be done,” he added.

However, after navigating the gridlock for three hours, it was clear that impatience also played a major part, as some vehicles drove against traffic, causing the gridlock to worsen.

The FRSC Commander in Edo State, Preye Bedford, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Sunday, said his men were always around the axis to ensure the free flow of traffic and prevent gridlock, urging motorists to exercise patience and obey traffic laws.

He said, “Though my men are not permanently positioned in that axis, I do send them to that particular spot every two days. And the men near Ofosu and other spots are always on alert in case there is a breakdown of a vehicle in that spot.

“So, we usually move our men there once we are informed that there is an accident or a breakdown of vehicles in that axis to ensure traffic flows. So, for now, we don’t have permanently positioned men there. What I will advise is for people to be patient and obey traffic rules,” he added.