Motorists and commuters travelling along the Lagos-Benin Expressway were stranded for more than three hours on Sunday following a major traffic build-up between Ovia Bridge and Okada Junction in Edo State.

The congestion, which began in the early hours of the morning, left several vehicles crawling along the highway, with some motorists forced to stop for extended periods.

Most of the affected vehicles were articulated trucks whose drivers were travelling out of Benin early in the day in an attempt to reach their destinations on schedule.

The situation was worsened by vehicle breakdowns and an accident recorded along the route, while motorists also blamed indiscriminate roadside parking for further restricting movement.

Some drivers said colleagues who parked their vehicles by the roadside and remained asleep contributed to the obstruction, particularly during the early morning hours when traffic was already building up.

A driver identified as Akanni described the situation as avoidable, blaming some truck operators for failing to comply with basic road-use regulations.

He said motorists parking along the highway and sleeping in their vehicles often failed to resume their journeys promptly, thereby creating additional obstacles for other road users.

Another driver, Chukwu, said he first encountered traffic congestion around Ovia Bridge at about 2am.

According to him, the situation prompted him to stop and sleep at a bypass near Oluku. He said he was surprised to encounter another major traffic jam after later passing through the Ovia Bridge without difficulty.

Chukwu blamed inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations and the deteriorated condition of part of the highway for the recurring congestion.

He particularly appealed to the Edo State Government to fix the damaged section of the road around the Tipper Garage area of Okada, which motorists said had become a frequent bottleneck.

He also urged relevant agencies, especially the Federal Road Safety Corps, to intensify enforcement and ensure that motorists comply with traffic regulations.

However, motorists’ actions also contributed to the worsening situation, as some impatient drivers reportedly drove against the flow of traffic while attempting to bypass the congestion.

The manoeuvre created additional obstruction and made it more difficult for vehicles travelling in the opposite direction to move freely.

The Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Preye Bedford, said the agency was monitoring the affected corridor and deploying personnel when incidents occurred.

Bedford explained that although FRSC officers were not permanently stationed at the particular location, personnel were periodically deployed to the area, while officers stationed around Ofosu and other nearby points remained alert to emergencies.

He said officers were dispatched to the affected section whenever reports of accidents or vehicle breakdowns were received, with the aim of restoring the free movement of traffic.

The commander urged motorists to remain patient and comply with traffic regulations, warning that reckless attempts to beat congestion could compound an already difficult situation.

He said, “Though my men are not permanently positioned in that axis, I do send them to that particular spot every two days. And the men near Ofosu and other spots are always on alert in case there is a breakdown of a vehicle in that spot.”

Bedford added that motorists should exercise patience and obey traffic laws to prevent temporary congestion from developing into prolonged gridlock.