Lagos is notorious for its relentless, day-long traffic; in fact, it is dubbed the “Traffic Capital of Africa.” Lagosians have learned to adapt, waking up at ungodly hours just to beat the gridlock and make it to work on time. But on April 2, 2025, things took a shocking turn. Workers who left their homes at 4 a.m. did not reach their offices until 2 p.m. These were routes that would normally take less than an hour.
This might just be the worst traffic standstill in history. Previously, the most infamous was the Beijing-Tibet Expressway gridlock in China. It stretched over 100 kilometers (60 miles) and lasted 12 days. But Lagos’ situation could last even longer; as much as two months. Reports suggest that the reconstruction of the Independence Bridge is the main cause of the chaos. This bridge connects Victoria Island to Marina and Eko Bridge. The project is expected to take two months to complete. And it’s not just the Lekki-Epe Expressway and Third Mainland Bridge that are affected. Major roads across the city of Lagos have come to a standstill.
We took to the streets of Lekki to interview several people, and here’s what they had to say:
Elizabeth:
“The traffic was just terrible, in fact, it was unbearable. I spent over four hours stuck in it. I work in Admiralty and was supposed to head to the mainland today, but I had to get off at Third Mainland Bridge, cross over, and return back to Lekki. It’s nothing to write home about, and I really hope the government does something soon. Or maybe they’re just pulling an April Fool’s prank on us, if that’s the case, we’ll overcome it. Haha!”
Abisola:
“The traffic was absolutely horrible. I’m just going to work by 9 am because I thought I wouldn’t be going to work today, but there was an emergency. Yesterday, I spent over two hours just to get to Falomo Bridge, and then I had to get off and trek to Ikoyi Plaza. I didn’t get home until 11:43 p.m., after leaving at 7 p.m. Normally, I get home in less than 20 minutes. The government really needs to speed up the bridge construction so that people can get back to using their normal routes, not just this one, for better movement.”
Felix:
“The time wey I take reach house no be wetin we dey talk oo. I don commot for Lekki here before I reach CMS I spend over 4 hours. I commot by 8pm reach house 12am. And the funny part be say, the transport wey I keep for my pocket wey I wan pay, them don increase am to five thousand, from Lekki to CMS. I con even dey think say the traffic go reduce today but this morning, na still the same thing. So make them find way wey dem go resolve this issue because we dey late come work and employers no go wan gree say na traffic cause am. Wetin make dem no do the bridge during salah break, from Saturday till Tuesday, na now wey everybody don resume work them wan fix bridge, na wa oo.
Kayode:
“I work in the Lekki Road council and this current hold-up is disturbing the work of a lot of people; the police, the citizens, EVERYONE. I believe they should have opened the road around that Bonny camp side because people aren’t even able to go to work. Yesterday, I got to my home at Ijora around 12:30am and was exhausted. This morning on my way to work, which I left around 3am, they doubled the transport fare, and when we talked to the drivers they said “Is it your bus?” “are you the one that bought the fuel?”. In fact, a fight broke out. I just hope this issue gets fixed soon.”
Samuel:
“I got home around some minutes to 12am and I stay in Jakande. Yesterday was hectic, I have never experienced anything like it, and I don’t pray to experience such a thing again. I’m not so sure what caused it but I heard they were fixing a bridge or something.”
Benedicta:
“I stay I Lekki here and I got home by some minute to 11 pm. The thing is, I had to trek from Victoria Island to Lekki because I could not even enter any vehicle. And it took me about 5 hours before I got home. It was so exhausting but as Nigerians, we have to be strong. They should really work on that bridge because I even got beat by the rain and caught a cold”
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has addressed the issue. He assured Lagosians that the bridge repairs were necessary to prevent a potential disaster. He advised those who do not need to be on the road early in the morning to delay their departure. This, he said, would help reduce congestion. Additionally, he encouraged companies to adopt remote work strategies where possible, to ease the strain on commuters and minimize traffic. This way, the bridge can be completed without a state wide gridlock.
This chaotic event has left Lagosians in a state of disbelief and frustration. From the long hours spent in gridlock to the sky-high transport fares, it’s clear that this situation has tested the patience of many. Daily commuting has become a source of stress and frustration for countless residents.
As the reconstruction of the Independence Bridge continues, commuters are left hoping for a swift resolution to this ongoing crisis. While the government works to ease the congestion, Lagosians are bracing for what could be months of delays. In the meantime, it is evident that Lagosians are no strangers to resilience. However, many are desperately waiting for a light at the end of the tunnel—hopefully without a toll.
For more intriguing stories, check out the story of the seven-year-old who was sexually assaulted or the hit-and-run driver who refused to help her victim on the Lekki Linked bridge. Follow our socials @InsidesucessNigeria for more updates.
Leave a Reply