Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway Still Gridlocked 24 Hours After Tanker Explosion—Commuters Trapped in Chaos

Motorists and commuters remain stranded nearly 24 hours after a petrol tanker exploded at the NASFAT Camp on the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday evening, June 11, 2025. The blast triggered a massive standstill that shows no sign of relief .

Traffic heading toward Ibadan remains completely blocked, while vehicles bound for Lagos are squeezed into two narrow lanes with no clear timetable for normal flow to resume .

Commuters describe the nightmare: what should have been a five‑minute ride from Arepo to Ibafo slowed to two hours; drivers like Mr. Dele Ayeni have spent more than three hours in gridlock, calling out authorities for abandoning them.

Commercial bus driver Rafiu Alamu shared the same frustration: stuck since 6:30 am with no official traffic management. Passengers, including a heavily pregnant woman, were seen leaning out of windows gasping for relief.

Even hawkers are conflicted—though teenage gala sellers profited from the delay, they expressed pity for trapped commuters enduring this ordeal .

Social media erupted:

“It’s crazy that in 2025… it’s still causing traffic the next day… A work day lost because of incompetence,” wrote @Ay_bkini.
“We have a terrible emergency management in this country… irresponsibility is annoying,” added @Ridwanullahii .

Despite initial FRSC assurances of swift clearance, heavy-duty equipment remained absent by Thursday morning. Passengers questioned why a major expressway could be blocked so long, while some resorted to walking on the shoulders just to get moving