By Ayomide Otitoju
Vehicular movement around the upscale Ikoyi and Lekki corridors of Lagos State came to a standstill on Wednesday morning after a container-laden truck became trapped under an overhead billboard structure along the Lekki Link Bridge, inward Alexandra Roundabout.
The incident, which occurred around 5:30 a.m., severely disrupted traffic as the immobilised truck blocked approximately 85% of the road, rendering it impassable for commuters and early morning travelers heading to workplaces and business districts.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene to manage the situation and commence extraction efforts.
Speaking to Channels Television, LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq confirmed that technical support had been requested to aid in the removal operation. “The road has been temporarily cordoned off, while effort is ongoing to remove the damaged barrier,” he stated, adding that a welder had been contacted to dismantle portions of the iron barrier obstructing the vehicle.
In a related development, LASTMA announced the temporary closure of Admiralty Way inward Lekki to facilitate the ongoing rescue operation. According to a statement issued by the agency, the entrapment occurred after the truck misjudged clearance beneath a billboard structure and got stuck.
“The severity of the entanglement necessitated the deployment of a technical specialist, who is presently engaged in precision-cutting of the iron framework to liberate the immobilised vehicle,” Taofiq explained.
He added that the road closure was critical to ensuring the safety of both operatives and the public during the delicate operation. “This strategic closure is imperative to safeguard both operatives and road users during the ongoing extraction process,” the statement read.
LASTMA has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the incident and assured motorists that traffic flow will be fully restored as soon as the truck is successfully extracted and the roadway cleared.
