The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned motorists, including drivers of security and government vehicles, against driving against traffic on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, warning that violators will be sanctioned as repair works continue on the Kara Bridge section.
The Lagos Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat, issued the warning on Monday while speaking with Channels Television at the scene of a major traffic gridlock along the route.
Responding to complaints that some security and government vehicles were still flouting the restriction by driving one-way, Hamzat described the practice as unacceptable and a clear abuse of office.
“It is wrong. Many times, we take some of their details. Like I saw one pass when I was at the Opic turning; we’ve taken the details and we will report appropriately to the man in there,” he said.
According to him, sanctions imposed by the agencies involved are often harsher than those issued by the FRSC.
“The kind of penalty given by their management is much more than the one we would think we want to give, because it’s a stain on the agency and a stain on the person in question. It’s an abuse of office, which is not supposed to be,” Hamzat added.
His remarks come amid severe congestion caused by ongoing repair works on the Kara Bridge. The FRSC had earlier announced that the repairs would last at least two months.
The corps explained that damaged portions of the road had led to several accidents, especially when motorists attempted to avoid oncoming vehicles.
To speed up the process, two expansion joints are being fixed simultaneously using fast-curing materials.
The FRSC also identified overloading as a key factor contributing to road damage, noting that weighbridges would be deployed to address the issue.
Repair work is currently ongoing on both sides of the Kara Bridge.
Hamzat reiterated that driving against traffic would attract sanctions and appealed to motorists to remain patient during the temporary disruption in the interest of safety.
Providing an update on traffic control efforts, he said personnel had been strategically deployed along the corridor to stop motorists from driving one-way.
“We have done a strategic deployment along the corridor. If you can see, no one is allowed now to drive against traffic. From Warewa, where people usually try to enter the long bridge, we refuse,” he said.
He praised the collaboration of security agencies at the site, noting that officers of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and FRSC personnel were jointly enforcing compliance.
“Yes, people coming into Lagos will feel some pains because, as a result of the construction, there’s a form of backlog. But if it’s moving, it will be better than blocking both sides of the road,” he explained.
Hamzat warned that allowing one-way driving at critical points such as the Opic turning could cause a total gridlock affecting both directions of the expressway.
“As it is now, people going out of Lagos towards Ibadan have free flow. People coming into Lagos have some element of backlog, which is not unexpected. All we need is discipline,” he said.
He disclosed that several motorists who attempted to drive against traffic had already been apprehended.
“We have arrested some people who tried to drive against traffic, and they have been put in places where they may be fined, as well as presented before a court of competent jurisdiction,” Hamzat stated.
On enforcement duration, he said FRSC personnel would remain on duty throughout the repair period.
“They will be here till evening. Towards evening, traffic flow will be more outward Lagos, so the construction sites would receive less traffic. But our men will always be on ground because we have scheduled them on shifts,” he said.
He added that the corps would continue working closely with other agencies to ensure strict compliance.
“As long as this project continues, we will always be there,” Hamzat said.