Motorists and residents along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have expressed concerns over the practice of driving against traffic, attributing it partly to traffic congestion, distant U-turns and difficulties accessing nearby communities.

PUNCH Metro observed that during a traffic build-up along the expressway, some motorists drove against traffic to navigate the congestion, while others remained in the proper lane.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, a resident of Ibafo, Awoyemi Oladidupo, said the lack of an accessible service lane and the distance to available U-turns were among the reasons some motorists resorted to driving against traffic when making short trips.

Oladidupo said motorists travelling to nearby places had to go a long distance before getting to a place where they could turn.

“The major thing is that there is no access road. The access road is supposed to pass through that corridor, within those communities, so that they will not need to go and turn from a faraway place,” he said.

He said the service lane would allow motorists to move within the communities without using the expressway.

“Assuming there is a service lane, they will just go straight through that service lane and go to wherever they are going. It is the service lane that is supposed to be aiding them, that they are supposed to be applying,” he said.

Oladidupo also said some of the areas meant for service lanes had been occupied by businesses and market activities.

He urged the government to clear the areas and make the service lane motorable.

“If they make it motorable, like grading it, make it possible for a vehicle to be able to pass it and ensure people are not encroaching on it unnecessarily. Then they will solve the issue of one way,” he said.

Another trader, who resides at Mowe, Peter Banjo, said the road had been reconstructed about four years ago but was now very bad in some areas.

He said the corridor was meant to allow vehicles and motorcycles to pass, particularly for people going to the market, but some parts were sometimes blocked.

Peter said some motorists used the one-way route because they wanted to access the market but advised them against doing so.

“One way is bad. You don’t need to follow one way. If you can manage it, you don’t need to follow one way. You cannot manage this road; go and turn at Nesfat. If you follow one way, anything can happen. So it’s not good to follow one way. It’s not good,” he said.

Peter also said work was ongoing on some parts of the road towards the Kara axis.

In separate interviews with PUNCH Metro, some motorists said the distance between U-turn points along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway made short-distance journeys difficult, with some saying they were sometimes tempted to take the wrong route to avoid long detours.

A motorist at Magboro, Yinka Adekunle, said the distance to the nearest U-turn was inconvenient, especially when he needed to make a short trip within the area.

“Sometimes, you just want to go somewhere nearby, but the U-turn is far. You have to go a long distance before you can turn and come back. That is why some people are tempted to use the other side of the road, but it is not safe,” he said.

Similarly, a road user at Aseese, Olamide Osho, said one-way driving was dangerous but could occur when motorists wanted to avoid spending more time on the expressway.

“The road is busy, and sometimes the U-turn is too far. Some drivers don’t want to go all the way before turning, so they use the wrong side. But this can cause accidents because another vehicle can come from the opposite direction,” the road user said.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the FRSC Public Relations Officer, Afolabi Odunsi, said the corps would intensify enforcement to eliminate driving against traffic.

“The Federal Road Safety Corps is intensifying enforcement and public enlightenment to curb driving against traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,” he said.

The FRSC spokesperson added that the agency had put measures in place to tackle the menace and sanction offenders.

“Measures include increased patrols, strategic deployment of personnel, monitoring of critical points, engagement with transport unions and motorists, prompt apprehension of offenders and special joint intervention patrols with sister agencies.

“Motorists caught driving against traffic are prosecuted in accordance with extant traffic laws. Such offenders may face fines, vehicle impoundment and other sanctions as prescribed by law.

“There will also be mobile court activities. They will be made to go for psychiatric tests and go through the public education office for more education,” he added.

The development comes months after PUNCH Metro reported that motorists and other road users on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway had raised concerns over drivers and motorcyclists who drove against traffic to beat congestion.

The report, published on March 18, 2024, noted that some motorists and motorcyclists were observed driving against traffic at high speed, putting other road users at risk.