Motorists plying the busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway have been placed on notice as Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) intensifies enforcement against drivers flouting traffic rules during ongoing repair works on the Kara Bridge section of the highway.
The warning comes amid widespread congestion triggered by essential maintenance on the bridge, which the FRSC confirmed last week would last for a minimum of two months. Authorities say the repairs are necessary to address structural damage that has been linked to multiple crashes in recent months.
Speaking on Monday at the scene of a major traffic backlog, the Lagos Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat, made it clear that no category of motorist would be exempt from sanctions, including drivers of government and security vehicles found driving against traffic.
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Describing one-way driving as an “abuse of office”, Hamzat said such conduct undermines public trust and poses serious safety risks. He revealed that details of offending official vehicles had already been documented and forwarded to their respective authorities for disciplinary action.
“It is wrong,” Hamzat said. “In many cases, the penalties imposed by their own agencies are more severe than ours because it brings disrepute to both the organisation and the individual involved.”
The repair works on Kara Bridge are being carried out on both sides of the carriageway, with contractors simultaneously fixing two expansion joints using faster-curing materials in a bid to reduce disruption. According to the FRSC, damaged road sections had previously encouraged reckless manoeuvres by motorists attempting to evade oncoming traffic, leading to accidents.
In addition to road defects, the FRSC has identified overloading by heavy-duty vehicles as a major contributor to the deterioration of the bridge. To address this, the agency said weighbridges would soon be deployed to curb excessive axle loads.
Traffic management measures have also been strengthened along the corridor. Hamzat confirmed that strategic deployments of FRSC personnel, supported by the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army, were preventing motorists from entering restricted sections of the road or driving against traffic, particularly around known trouble spots such as Warewa and the Opic turning.
While acknowledging the inconvenience faced by commuters travelling into Lagos, Hamzat appealed for patience and discipline, noting that traffic moving slowly was preferable to a complete gridlock.
“Allowing one-way driving at critical points could block both sides of the expressway,” he warned. “What we need now is cooperation.”
Several motorists have already been arrested for traffic violations and are facing fines or prosecution before competent courts. The FRSC confirmed that officers would remain on duty throughout the repair period, operating in shifts to ensure round-the-clock enforcement.
“As long as this project continues, we will be here,” Hamzat said, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to road safety during the temporary disruption.
