The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has issued a stern warning to motorists including drivers of security and government vehicles against driving against traffic on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, particularly around the Kara Bridge, where major repairs are ongoing.
The Lagos Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat, said offenders would face sanctions, stressing that no individual or agency is above the law.
Speaking at the scene of a traffic gridlock on Monday, Hamzat described the continued violation by some security and government drivers as an abuse of office and completely unacceptable.
“It is wrong. We have taken details of some vehicles and we will report appropriately. The penalties from their management are often more severe than ours,” he said.
According to Hamzat, such misconduct stains both the individual and the agency involved, noting that internal disciplinary actions could be harsher than FRSC fines.
The warning comes amid severe traffic congestion caused by ongoing repairs on the Kara Bridge. The FRSC recently disclosed that the rehabilitation work would last at least two months.
The agency explained that damaged portions of the road had triggered multiple crashes, especially as motorists attempted to dodge oncoming vehicles by driving one-way.
To speed up the repairs, two expansion joints are being fixed simultaneously using fast-curing construction materials.
Hamzat also identified overloading by heavy-duty vehicles as a key factor behind the road damage, adding that weighbridges would soon be deployed to curb the practice.
To maintain order, the FRSC has intensified enforcement along the corridor, blocking common illegal entry points such as Warewa and the Opic turning.
“We have made strategic deployments. No one is allowed to drive against traffic. Allowing one-way driving here could completely block both sides of the road,” Hamzat warned.
He acknowledged the inconvenience faced by motorists heading into Lagos but insisted that discipline was essential to prevent total gridlock.
“Those going towards Ibadan have free flow. People coming into Lagos will feel some pain, but moving traffic is better than a total shutdown,” he said.
Hamzat confirmed that several motorists had already been arrested and would be fined or prosecuted.
FRSC personnel, alongside officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army, will remain on duty throughout the duration of the repair works.
“As long as this project continues, we will always be here,” he assured.
