Motorist stranded as Ogun ram market sparks gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

Chaos erupted on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday as motorists encountered lengthy delays due to a massive traffic jam caused by buyers and sellers of livestock at the Kara Market.

According to our correspondents, who surveyed the traffic situation along the corridor, the congestion was exacerbated by the presence of large trucks transporting livestock, which were stationed on the roadside for unloading, thereby further obstructing the flow of traffic and intensifying the gridlock.

As the livestock were being unloaded from the trucks, vendors from the nearby Kara Market showcased the animals on the roadway, obstructing the flow of traffic on the expressway and causing further congestion.

Our correspondents also observed that the traffic backlog heading out of Lagos ended at the OPIC, while the backlog heading into Lagos terminated just a few metres past Kara Market, starting at Arepo, as of the time this report was filed on Wednesday.

Due to the road blockage caused by displaying rams on parts of the expressway, correspondent further noted that intending buyers worsened the gridlock by parking their vehicles along the sides of the road.

Our correspondents also observed that the increasing activity of traders along the corridor is not unconnected to the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival, an annual Muslim celebration that involves the slaughter of livestock, especially rams and cows.

Stranded motorists, however, criticised the government for permitting the traders to disrupt traffic flow, especially when the expressway is typically congested during festive periods.

“How can the government allow these people to use their businesses to affect others? This is not fair to the users of this road. This gridlock started since morning, and it is already getting worse,” a motor boy simply known as Kazeem told our correspondents.

A distraught passenger, Moses Uche, attributed the congestion to both the traders and the impatience of some road users who often disregarded traffic laws, especially on the expressway during rainy and festive periods.

Uche said, “It is not only caused by the ram sellers. This place has always been known for traffic, especially during the rainy season. If you pass this place during any downpour, you will see that the whole place will be messed up.”

Corroborating Uche’s assertion, the spokesperson for the Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Babatunde Akinbiyi, described the activities of the livestock traders as ”greedy and selfish.”

He noted that the agency was working hand-in-glove with other agencies, including the police to resolve the traffic issues on the corridor.

Akinbiyi said, “Because of the heavy flow of traffic, human and vehicular movement, that’s why you have hitches around those areas. The Otedola Bridge area is also contributing to the gridlock. And you know any time it rains around those areas, it is always waterlogged. This also slows down vehicular movement.

“About the ram sellers that you talked about, I don’t know why some people are so greedy and selfish. How can they be selling rams on the road? I’ve spoken with our operatives who are currently controlling traffic in the area; they are already working in collaboration with the officials of the police, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Vehicle Inspection Officers, and others to control the activities of traders in that area.

“When the festive periods are rearing, there are always issues, especially those bringing rams, cows, and goats inward Lagos compared to the outbound. The influx outward from Lagos will be mild as a result of the Kara turning. This festive period is an accumulation of the challenges that we have already had on the road since time immemorial. A synergy is currently being worked on to improve traffic.”

Florence Okpe, the spokesperson for the Ogun State sector commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), informed the correspondent that the corps had deployed its officials to manage the traffic situation on the expressway and restore order.

She said, “This is because of the turning at Kara and those people who are buying rams for the Sallah preparation. We are doing our job at the FRSC. The operational orders for the Sallah preparation are out now, and even my sector commandant will hold a press conference tomorrow (today) or Friday to address the motoring public on Sallah Day.

“We have an outpost at Ibafo. Our men have been deployed already to control the traffic in that area, so I believe they are on the ground.”