The Federal Government has expressed serious concern after a low-bed truck transporting heavy equipment crashed into the nearly completed Lotto Bridge Interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, causing extensive damage that may delay the project by several months.
The accident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, involved a low-bed articulated vehicle carrying an excavator. According to officials, the excavator’s boom was not properly lowered, making the load too high to pass under the bridge. As a result, it collided with the bridge beams, causing severe structural damage.
Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, led a team of engineers to inspect the site on Monday. She described the damage as “very serious” and warned that the cost of repairs and the resulting traffic disruptions would have wide-reaching effects on both commuters and the Nigerian economy.
“From what we observed, the boom of the excavator was not properly lowered. This carelessness damaged five beams — two of them badly — and they will need to be completely replaced,” Kesha said.
The Lotto Bridge Interchange is part of the critical Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project — one of Nigeria’s busiest and most important highways, linking Lagos to Ogun and Oyo States, and beyond. The route serves millions of commuters daily and is key to the movement of goods between the South-West and other parts of Nigeria.
“To carry out repairs, we will have to shut down one section of the road and divert traffic to the other side. Anyone familiar with this expressway knows what that means — traffic will be terrible,” Kesha lamented.
She noted that, beyond traffic delays, the cost of fixing the damage would run into millions of naira, adding further pressure to government resources.
“This is a setback, not just for the project, but for the entire nation. We will not condone this kind of recklessness. People need to understand that their actions have consequences for millions of Nigerians,” she said.
The driver of the vehicle involved in the incident has been **arrested by the police**, Kesha confirmed. Authorities are investigating how the vehicle, which was clearly too high to pass under the bridge, was allowed on the road.
“This is a clear case of negligence. The minimum clearance height is five metres, but we even exceeded that — we made it between 5.6 and 6 metres to account for the kinds of loads we see on Nigerian roads. Still, this happened,” she added.
Kesha stressed that the incident highlighted the urgent need for better regulation of heavy-duty vehicles on Nigerian roads.
The Federal Ministry of Works has repeatedly warned heavy truck operators and logistics companies to ensure their vehicles meet road safety standards — including height and weight limits.
Kesha used the incident to reiterate the government’s call for stricter enforcement. She announced that weighbridges — facilities used to check if trucks are overloaded — will soon become operational at the Old Toll Gate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“It is not enough to build good roads. If drivers continue to overspeed or carry unsafe loads, we are just putting lives at risk. This bridge was almost ready. Now we’re going to lose more time and money because of someone’s carelessness,” she said.
The Lotto Bridge Interchange was being finalized and was set to open soon to ease traffic congestion for commuters heading towards Ikorodu, Sagamu, and Mowe. The main structure had already been completed, with only the connecting ramps left to finish. A new contractor had taken over from Julius Berger to handle the final stage.
“The bridge is not yet in use. We were preparing to open it, but we will not take any risks. We owe Nigerians safe infrastructure, and we will ensure everything is properly repaired before opening it to the public,” Kesha explained.
She added that a detailed technical report was being prepared. It will outline the full extent of the damage, propose a repair plan, and provide cost estimates. Once the report is approved, the contractor will begin work immediately.
“We are working quickly. But with the kind of damage we’ve seen, we must be thorough. Safety is our top priority,” she added.
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which has been under reconstruction for several years, remains a major source of stress for road users. Though significant progress has been made, including new lanes and interchanges, incidents like this only increase public frustration.
Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express anger over the delay, blaming both reckless drivers and lack of enforcement by road safety officials.
“Every day there is one story or the other on that road. When will it end?” one commuter posted online. “Why can’t trucks be properly inspected before being allowed on the highway?”
Kesha said the government is now considering stricter penalties for drivers and logistics companies that damage public infrastructure.
“We are not going to let this slide. People must take responsibility. One driver’s mistake can cost the country months of delay and millions in damages,” she said.
She also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering quality infrastructure, promising that the Lotto Bridge will be repaired and completed with urgency.
“We will do everything it takes to fix the damage. But we also need Nigerians to cooperate — especially truck owners. Infrastructure is a shared responsibility.”
The Federal Government has blamed carelessness for the serious damage to the almost-completed Lotto Bridge. The bridge, designed to ease traffic and support economic growth, will now face delays. Authorities have promised a swift response but also called on road users — especially truck operators — to act responsibly to avoid further losses to the nation.
