In the daily battle with traffic that defines life in Lagos, Otedola Bridge has once again reminded motorists why its name alone sends shivers down the spine. On Thursday, January 9, 2026, a terrifying road accident unfolded on the bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Motorway, leaving commuters shaken and social media ablaze.
A mini truck reportedly loaded with tomatoes suffered a sudden brake failure while approaching the bridge around noon. Eyewitnesses say the vehicle veered off its lane at high speed and rammed into a Toyota Highlander, triggering a violent chain reaction. The impact pushed the Highlander into a Venza, which was flung momentarily into the air before both vehicles were crushed against the bridge barricade.
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For a brief moment, it appeared another tragic chapter had been added to the long list of deadly incidents associated with Otedola Bridge. Inside one of the vehicles was a family of four who narrowly escaped death. In what many Lagosians have described as nothing short of a miracle, no life was lost in the crash.
Videos and photos from the scene quickly flooded X, formerly Twitter, pushing Otedola Bridge to the top of trending topics nationwide. Many users expressed shock, fear, and frustration as the familiar sight of mangled vehicles on the bridge resurfaced yet again.
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A Bridge With a Troubling Past
Otedola Bridge is not new to tragedy. Over the years, it has earned an unenviable reputation as one of Lagos’s most dangerous accident blackspots, particularly for heavy-duty vehicles.
In June 2018, the bridge witnessed one of its deadliest disasters when a fuel tanker exploded after crashing, killing at least 12 people and destroying dozens of vehicles and nearby properties worth millions of naira.
In March 2025, another gas tanker accident claimed lives and razed surrounding properties in a fire that stunned Lagos residents. In a bizarre twist, an RCCG church located nearby was left untouched.
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Barely two months later, in May 2025, a collision involving a truck and an Audi claimed the lives of a family of three, further deepening public anger over repeated accidents at the location.
December 2025 was equally grim. Just days before Christmas, a fully loaded tanker crashed into four vehicles, leaving two people critically injured. Later that same month, a container truck flipped at night and collided with another vehicle, compounding fears about nighttime travel around the bridge.
With accidents frequently linked to brake failure, sharp bends, speeding, and poor vehicle maintenance, many Lagosians have grown weary of official explanations. Some social media users have even gone as far as suggesting supernatural causes, calling for spiritual intervention to cleanse what they describe as a cursed bridge.
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Mixed Reactions From Nigerians
While conspiracy theories gained traction online, others urged calm and a more practical approach. Tech Nurse Timi, known on X as VickSam360, reminded Nigerians to focus on facts rather than fear.
He wrote that despite how terrible the latest accident appeared, it was important to acknowledge that no life was lost.
Another user, ObaPort, questioned government authorities directly, asking why a location with such a long history of crashes continues to operate without major redesign or stricter control.
Calls for Action Grow Louder
As officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority worked to clear the wreckage and restore traffic flow, the bigger questions remained unanswered. Why does Otedola Bridge continue to record repeated accidents, many involving heavy-duty vehicles? Why have lasting solutions remained elusive despite years of warnings and public outcry?
With Nigeria recording thousands of road accident deaths every year, the latest Otedola Bridge incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for stricter vehicle inspections, enforcement of roadworthiness standards, improved road engineering, and targeted safety measures at known danger zones.
For many Lagos residents, surviving another Otedola Bridge accident feels less like relief and more like borrowed time.
Awijare News will continue to monitor developments surrounding this story. For now, motorists are urged to drive cautiously and remain alert, especially around known high-risk routes across the country.
