If the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway were a person, it would be that toxic ex you keep going back to even though you know they’ll ruin your life again.
You swear you’re done, you pray for safety, you whisper “God abeg” before every trip — but you still climb that asphalt of chaos because, well, what choice do you have?
Last week’s horror show at the Kara Bridge, where a police inspector and others lost their lives in a fiery truck collision, wasn’t just another headline. It was déjà vu — a tragic rerun in a country that’s somehow turned road carnage into a daily subscription service.
But amid the smoke and twisted metal, one question roars louder than the truck engines: Who is really to blame for the endless bloodbath on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway?
The Truck Drivers: Kings Of The Highway Or Highway Terrorists?
Let’s start with the obvious suspects — the truck drivers. Those iron giants who seem to believe the expressway is their private kingdom.
Many of them drive as if they’re auditioning for Fast & Furious: Ibadan Drift.
Overloaded? Check.
Worn-out tyres older than democracy? Double check.
Headlights dimmer than NEPA at 9 p.m.? Absolutely.
Some of these drivers have been on the road for 14 hours straight, fuelled by pure caffeine, frustration, and the Nigerian spirit of “e go be.”
But before we condemn them to the gallows of public opinion, ask yourself — who trained them? Who monitors their hours, their truck conditions, their mental state?
They are both culprits and casualties of a broken system.
Government: The Silent Partner In Every Crash
Ah, the government — our favourite character in every Nigerian tragedy.
For decades, the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway has been “under construction” more times than a Lagos landlord’s duplex.
Every administration promises completion, ribbon cuttings, and drone shots — yet potholes still yawn like open graves.
Streetlights? Half dead.
Road signs? Faded like a 90s Nollywood DVD cover.
Emergency response? Let’s just say by the time help arrives, the victims have already reported to Saint Peter.
So when a truck loses control on a road that looks like a lunar surface, who’s to blame — the driver or the people who let the road rot into a death trap?
Enforcement Agencies: Sleeping On Duty Or Overworked?
You’ll often see FRSC officers at the expressway, whistling and waving, sometimes stopping drivers for seat belts, sometimes for “something light.”
But let’s be honest — road safety enforcement in Nigeria often feels like a lottery.
There are officers doing God’s work, no doubt. But there are others who seem more interested in the “enforcement of egunje” than actual safety compliance.
Truck with bad brakes? Pass.
Expired tyres? Pass.
Your papers slightly expired? Ah, that one they’ll pursue like it’s Interpol.
Until enforcement becomes consistent and corruption-proof, the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway will remain an open casket.
Private Drivers: The Self-Proclaimed Formula 1 Champions
Let’s not forget you, the impatient Lagos driver who thinks the left lane is a personal runway.
You overtake from the shoulder, drive against traffic, and curse everyone slower than you — then wonder why chaos reigns.
Half the time, the crash isn’t caused by the truck driver — it’s the Danfo that swerved unexpectedly, the Sienna that thought it could squeeze through, or the impatient private car that cut in too close.
Everyone’s in a hurry, but no one arrives faster at the destination called Disaster.
The Truck Owners: The Ghosts Behind The Wheel
Here’s the twist no one talks about — many truck owners knowingly send death traps onto the road.
They patch brakes with faith and wire, fill tyres with prayers instead of pressure, and tell drivers to “manage am like that.” Because profits must flow, even if blood flows with it.
When tragedy strikes, the owners vanish faster than politicians after elections.
Maybe, just maybe, if the law ever held these owners accountable for every preventable death, they’d think twice before putting coffin-on-wheels vehicles on the road.
So… Who’s Really to Blame?
Everyone.
No one.
The entire ecosystem.
It’s a vicious circle of negligence — from policymakers who sleep on reforms, to truck owners who worship profit, to drivers who risk lives daily, to citizens who normalize recklessness.
Also Read: Lagos–Ibadan Expressway Accident: 5 Safety Measures For Drivers Frequenting This Route
We’ve created a culture where road deaths are “God’s will” instead of human failure.
And until that mindset changes, the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway will remain Nigeria’s most reliable supplier of heartbreak.
The Road Is Not Cursed — We Are
There’s nothing supernatural about the accidents. The expressway isn’t haunted — it’s just neglected.
The curse isn’t spiritual; it’s systemic.
We pray for “journey mercies” yet drive like demons. We cry after each crash, then climb back into the same chaos, no lessons learned.
Maybe it’s time we stopped praying for safety — and started demanding accountability.
Because until then, every trip on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway will be less of a commute… and more of a gamble.
