Gridlock as protesting truckers barricade Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesman of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps,

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The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency has warned unruly truck drivers against traffic violations after some truckers barricaded the Ogere section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday to protest the earlier arrest of their trucks, causing several hours of gridlock.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Wednesday from the agency’s spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, that the Ogere Division task force team, comprising the police, army, TRACE, and transport unions, had earlier apprehended three trucks for illegal double-parking.

Akinbiyi said such double-parking frequently obstructs traffic flow along the axis, despite the availability of several trailer parks in the area.

He explained that one of the drivers whose truck was impounded, instead of following the required procedure for release, mobilised other drivers to protest the arrest, resulting in a major traffic disruption.

Akinbiyi stated, “However, one of the apprehended truck drivers (a Dangote truck driver) reported back at the task force office by 07:00 hours, spitting so much fire and brimstone in a bid to secure his truck.

“Moreover, the said driver exhibited high-handedness, irrational and uncompromising behaviour, threatening to cause chaos if he wasn’t attended to immediately, even though the time for proper documentation, sensitisation and enlightenment before release — which is 08:00 hours — had already been communicated to him.

“Unfortunately, he left in annoyance and went on to instigate his co-Dangote truck drivers, a deliberate act intended to cause mayhem, obstruction, and delay in travel time, and to expose road users to risk and danger along the Ogere-Sapade road, all with the intent of embarrassing the state government.”

He noted that normalcy was restored following the intervention of senior officers of the task force team and stakeholders within the area.

Akinbiyi warned truckers against further violations, insisting that the agency was committed to ensuring strict compliance with traffic rules.

“Orderliness has been restored through the intervention of the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunnowo, the Seriki Hausawa of Ogere, and the acting TRACE Commander General and CEO, Omonayajo Elias, who also ordered the release of the earlier apprehended trucks, which were handed over to the Seriki Hausawa and other transport union representatives to douse the already built-up tension along the axis.

“Although the road is now open and normalcy is gradually being restored, vehicular movement remains slow due to the accumulated backlog.

“TRACE reiterates its commitment to enforcing traffic rules and regulations, especially as the ember months peak, while urging fleet operators and articulated vehicle drivers to uphold safety standards that guarantee the protection of lives and property,” Akinbiyi concluded.

Also, the spokesperson for the Ogun Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Command, Afolabi Odunsi, confirmed the protest in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the blockage resulted in hours of gridlock but had since been resolved.

“Sequel to the earlier reported blockage of the expressway by protesting truck drivers around Ogere, the matter has now been resolved, the batteries seized by TRACE have been returned, and the road has been opened in both directions.

“The matter was resolved after the intervention of the state Commissioner of Police, the FRSC, and the Seriki Hausawa of Ogere and Iperu. The angry protesters agreed to remove their vehicles from the road.

“Although movement has resumed, there is a backlog of traffic being managed by personnel from the Ogere unit command,” Odunsi added.

Johnson, an avid reader, has over four years experience in journalism covering education, politics and Metro.

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