The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists plying the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway against driving against traffic as rehabilitation works continue on the Kara Bridge, stressing that offenders will be sanctioned irrespective of their status.
The Lagos Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Kehinde Hamzat, issued the warning on Monday during an on-the-spot assessment of traffic congestion along the corridor.
Speaking to Channels Television, Hamzat described the act of driving against traffic as unacceptable and an abuse of office, reacting to complaints that some security and government vehicles were still flouting traffic rules.
“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,” he said.
According to him, internal sanctions imposed by the management of such agencies are often more severe than penalties issued by the FRSC, noting that traffic violations tarnish both the individual and the institution involved.
Traffic congestion on the expressway has worsened following the commencement of repair works on the Kara Bridge, which the FRSC said would last at least two months. The Corps explained that damaged sections of the road had contributed to multiple crashes, especially as motorists attempted to dodge oncoming vehicles.
To hasten completion, Hamzat said two expansion joints were being repaired simultaneously using faster-curing materials. He also blamed overloading for the deterioration of the road, adding that weighbridges would be deployed to curb the problem.
On traffic control measures, the sector commander said FRSC personnel had been strategically deployed along the corridor to prevent motorists from driving against traffic.
“We have done a strategic deployment along the corridor. From Warewa, where people usually try to enter the long bridge, we refuse,” he said.
Hamzat acknowledged that motorists travelling into Lagos were experiencing delays due to construction-related backlog but maintained that discipline was crucial to preventing total gridlock.
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He warned that allowing one-way driving at critical points such as the Opic turning could cripple traffic flow on both sides 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.
The sector commander disclosed that several motorists had already been arrested for traffic violations and would be fined or charged before a court of competent jurisdiction.
He added that FRSC officers would remain on duty throughout the repair period, working in shifts and in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure compliance until the project is completed.