Commuters heading out of Lagos via the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway faced severe traffic congestion on Wednesday due to ongoing repair work on the Kara Bridge by the Federal Government.
According to PUNCH Metro commercial drivers exploited the situation by hiking transport fares, forcing many passengers to either pay exorbitant fees or walk long distances to reach their destinations.
The Ministry of Works had earlier announced a 14-day traffic diversion to facilitate the second phase of Kara Bridge repairs. The Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Olayiwola Komolafe, confirmed that the work involves replacing damaged expansion joints along the outbound Lagos corridor. Repairs began on March 10, 2026, and are expected to conclude by March 24, 2026.
Despite the diversion plan, motorists were held up for hours, with the congestion stretching well beyond the construction area.
“We have been in traffic for over two hours now. It started from the Lagos Secretariat area. This is Ojodu Berger, and we still don’t know where it ends,” said James, a motorboy.
At Ojodu Berger bus stop, commuters, including students and parents, were stranded under the sun, with some struggling to cope with the fare hike.
“When I left for work this morning, I paid N400. I even budgeted N500 because of fuel prices. But now, they are charging N1,000 to Magboro. I will wait for a private car,” lamented commuter Eniola.
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Investigations by PUNCH Metro revealed that fares from Berger to Magboro, usually around N400, surged to between N800 and N1,000 due to the heavy traffic.
A commercial driver, Wasiu, explained the increase, saying, “We spend more time on the road than usual. The standstill increases fuel consumption, and we still have families to cater to.”
Another commuter, Doyin, criticised the timing of the repairs, noting that the rush ahead of the Eid celebrations could worsen the situation.
“They know people will be travelling for the celebration. Why fix the road at this time? This road gets blocked even without construction. They could have done the repairs at night,” she said.
While inbound traffic into Lagos flowed without major issues, outbound motorists continued to face hours-long delays, with many walking to circumvent the gridlock.