Chaos as bridge collapses on Lagos-Benin expressway [VIDEO]

Motorists and passengers were left stranded for hours after a truck toppled near a failed portion of a bridge along the Isoko axis of the Lagos-Benin Expressway.

A viral video from the scene showed long queues of vehicles trapped on both sides, with frustrated commuters calling on the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to urgently fix the collapsing sections of the highway.

One stranded passenger, captured in the footage, lamented that the incident brought traffic to a standstill for over two hours, halting movement of people and goods.

He said, “I’m currently standing on the Benin-Lagos Expressway, and where we are now is Isoko Camp. This is a bridge, a very short bridge, and this message is to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, the one who is building a road from Lagos-Calabar Highway, the road to nowhere. This place is currently shut down.

“This truck fell here, and there’s no way. Look at this place. Vehicles are blocked. Look this way, everywhere packed up.”

Pointing at the damaged section, the commuter described the bridge as dangerous, noting that its deteriorating condition posed a threat to both lives and businesses.

He accused the Federal Government of abandoning critical routes like the Lagos-Benin Expressway in favour of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

“This is an expressway, and we have a minister. This is the Lagos-Benin Expressway yet, our minister, dey do Lagos – Calabar Highway,” he said.

“This is what we have. Do you know how many people pass here? As I’m speaking to you now, if you look up, trailer. If you know the number of trailers that are here and are trapped, it means the economy of Nigeria is affected. Because the number of goods and services has been shut down. Everywhere is shut down.

“This road now, everywhere is at standstill. This vehicle is even lucky that it didn’t fall into the water. And we have a Minister of Works wasting money, saying Calabar Expressway.”

Arguing that the Lagos-Benin Expressway is of far greater economic value, the commuter urged Umahi to prioritise its rehabilitation.

He said, “Mr. Minister, let me educate you. If you have a small economic sense, you will know that this road alone is affecting Nigeria’s economy. But that Calabar Expressway, it’s not affecting anybody. If you go there now, you won’t see vehicles parked lined up there. The only place where you will see vehicles lined up is on this road. So if the Minister has more direction, he will go and fix this road.

“I see when they say they need more money, they are borrowing more money to put in the road we don’t use. Then the one we use is abandoned. So please, those who are close to the Minister, talk to him. We are stranded here now. We have been here for over two hours now, and nothing is moving.”

The video, now circulating widely on social media, has drawn reactions from concerned Nigerians who described the route as a “death trap” and echoed calls for swift government intervention.