Motorists and commuters were left stranded for more than three hours on Sunday following a traffic jam between Ovia Bridge and Okada Junction on the Benin-Lagos Expressway in Edo State.
The Punch reported that the congestion affected several road users, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, many of whom were travelling from Benin early in the morning to reach their destinations on schedule.
A visit to the affected section showed that the situation was worsened by vehicle breakdowns and an accident along the route, further slowing movement and leaving motorists struggling to make progress.
Some drivers attributed the gridlock to indiscipline among their colleagues, accusing some of parking along the roadside to sleep instead of continuing their journeys early enough.
They also identified the Okada axis, especially a damaged section of the road near Tipper Garage, as a persistent source of traffic congestion.
One of the drivers, Akanni, criticised the conduct of some truck drivers, saying their failure to resume their journeys on time contributed to the problem.
“Imagine drivers parking by the roadside, sleeping and not waking up on time to continue their journey, thereby contributing to the gridlock,” he said.
Another driver, Chukwu, said he had received information about traffic congestion around Ovia Bridge at approximately 2am on Sunday.
According to him, he decided to rest at a bypass near Oluku after learning about the situation.
However, he was surprised to encounter another traffic jam after passing through the Ovia Bridge section without difficulty.
Chukwu blamed the recurring congestion on inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations by government agencies, particularly the Federal Road Safety Corps.
He also urged the Edo State Government to rehabilitate the deteriorated portion of the road near Okada, noting that repairs would improve movement for both motorists and pedestrians.
“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, the conduct of some motorists also contributed to the prolonged congestion, as impatience led several drivers to drive against oncoming traffic, further obstructing movement along the highway.
Reacting to the situation, the Edo State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Preye Bedford, said the corps regularly monitored the route to maintain traffic flow and respond to incidents that could cause congestion.
Bedford explained that although personnel were not permanently stationed at the affected location, officers were deployed periodically and remained available to respond to accidents and vehicle breakdowns.
“Though my men are not permanently positioned in that axis, I do send them to that particular spot every two days. The men near Ofosu and other spots are always on alert in case there is a vehicle breakdown in the area.
“We usually deploy our men there once we are informed of an accident or vehicle breakdown along that axis to ensure that traffic flows. For now, we do not have personnel permanently stationed there. What I will advise is for people to be patient and obey traffic rules,” Bedford said.
The FRSC sector commander urged motorists to remain patient and comply with traffic regulations to prevent avoidable congestion and ensure smoother movement along the expressway.
