More than 24 hours after a petrol tanker exploded along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, traffic remains at a standstill, leaving countless motorists and commuters stranded in what many now call a never-ending nightmare.
The explosion occurred Wednesday in front of the NASFAT Camp, sparking a gridlock that has paralyzed movement in both directions of the major highway.
By Thursday morning, vehicles heading towards Ibadan were still stuck, while those coming into Lagos were forced to navigate through two narrow lanes.
Despite early assurances from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) that clearance was in progress, little improvement has been seen.
Commuters described enduring hours of delay over short distances, with some abandoning their vehicles to proceed on foot.
A commuter told Punch he left Arepo at 7:00 a.m. but had not reached Ibafo by 9:15 a.m.—a journey that normally takes five minutes. Another driver, Dele Ayeni, reported being stuck for over three hours en route to Ibadan.
Hawkers took advantage of the situation, with one teenage vendor remarking, “No be small money I don see since morning. I just pity people wey dey inside the traffic.”
Frustration spilled onto social media. User @Ay_bkini wrote, “It’s crazy that in 2025, a fire incident involving multiple trailers on Lagos–Ibadan expressway is still causing traffic the next day.
A work day lost because of incompetence.”
Another user, @Ridwanullahii, criticized emergency response efforts:
“How do you tell me a tanker fell yesterday and it’s still causing traffic this morning? The irresponsibility is annoying.”
Some commuters questioned why heavy-duty equipment wasn’t immediately deployed to clear the road.
“How can a country like Nigeria leave a major expressway blocked for almost 24 hours?” asked passenger Obinna Nwachukwu.
The original incident involved a petrol tanker that overturned and burst into flames near the NASFAT Camp, sending thick black smoke into the air and trapping vehicles in a gridlock that stretched for kilometers.
Efforts to ease the congestion were further hampered by drivers attempting to drive against traffic, worsening the situation. Despite the presence of security personnel and FRSC officials, order was elusive as the chaos deepened into the night.
Ogun FRSC spokesperson Florence Okpe confirmed on Wednesday that no lives were lost but that several vehicles were trapped.
She said efforts were ongoing to evacuate the wreckage and restore traffic flow.
However, as of Thursday, the road toward Ibadan remained impassable.
Some stranded commuters resorted to driving along the road shoulders and pedestrian paths in a bid to escape the gridlock.
For many, the journey remains uncertain, with no clear end in sight to the paralyzing traffic.