A civic group, GO FORTE Foundation, has urged the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene in a section of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway described as a recurring accident hotspot, warning that continued inaction could lead to further loss of lives and economic disruption.
In a letter dated January 24, 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Works, the foundation drew attention to a stretch of the expressway near the Mobil Filling Station and Otedola Estate access, outbound toward Ibadan. The group said the road’s steep downward slope before the bridge creates what it called a “natural acceleration zone” for heavy-duty vehicles, particularly articulated trucks and fuel tankers.
According to the foundation, the location has recorded repeated fatal crashes over the past decade. “Over the past decade, this location has repeatedly recorded serious and often fatal crashes, particularly involving articulated trucks and fuel tankers,” the letter signed by Gbenga Onabanjo, the convener said. It noted that many trucks approach the slope empty from northern routes and return heavily loaded from Lagos ports, often losing control due to speed buildup and vehicle weight.
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The group recalled several incidents in which fuel tankers crashed and ignited, leading to mass casualties and destruction of property. “In one particularly tragic event, over fifty vehicles were reportedly destroyed and more than one hundred road users lost their lives,” the letter stated. It added that such accidents routinely cause traffic gridlock stretching across Lagos, with commuters stranded for up to 12 hours or more.
GO FORTE Foundation also cited recent incidents in which trailers failed to ascend the opposing slope due to load and road geometry, resulting in overturned vehicles and cargo spillage that again disrupted traffic flow on the highway.
Describing the area as a classic “black spot,” the group called for a comprehensive technical audit and permanent engineering solutions rather than reactive measures. It recommended interventions including speed-calming systems, heavy-vehicle lane management, escape ramps, gradient re-engineering, weighbridge enforcement, and improved signage and lighting.
“This is not merely a local inconvenience—it is a national safety and logistics concern,” the foundation said, stressing that the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway remains a critical economic corridor. The group urged the ministry to act swiftly, adding that “each unresolved incident represents lives that could have been saved through proactive intervention.”
The foundation said it was willing to contribute community-level insights or participate in stakeholder engagements to support efforts to make the corridor safer for road users.
