The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, one of Nigeria’s busiest and most notoriously treacherous highways, has been officially reopened following the completion of a three-year reconstruction project. The Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Adedamola Kuti, made the announcement on Friday during a ceremony at the Sagamu Interchange attended by the Ministers of Works and Transportation.
The reconstructed road now features a ten-lane carriageway from the Otedola Bridge to the Sagamu Interchange, expanded from the original six lanes. Digital traffic management systems, emergency vehicle bays, CCTV surveillance cameras, and three new petrol stations have been installed at key points along the corridor.
How travel times have changed
Officials say the end-to-end travel time between Lagos and Ibadan under normal traffic conditions has been reduced from a peak of four to six hours to approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. For freight operators who use the corridor to move goods from Apapa Port to warehouses in the Southwest, the efficiency gains are estimated to reduce logistics costs by up to 30%.
Motorists react
Social media was flooded with videos and testimonials from motorists who described driving the newly completed stretch. “I drove Lagos to Ibadan in one hour and fifty-two minutes with AC on and zero potholes. This is not Nigeria anymore. God bless whoever did this road,” tweeted one user, whose post garnered over 50,000 likes in 24 hours.
Outstanding sections
The government acknowledged that two sections of the expressway — from Ogere Remo to Sagamu — remain under construction and are expected to be completed within six months. Motorists are advised to observe reduced speed limits in these areas and to avoid night driving through construction zones.
Chukwu Vincent Ogbonnia is the founder and lead editor of Viralarena, a Nigerian digital media platform covering breaking news, music, and sport. Based in Abuja, Vincent is a content creator passionate about telling Nigerian stories with speed, accuracy, and cultural authenticity.
Chukwu Vincent Ogbonnia is the founder and lead editor of Viralarena, a Nigerian digital media platform covering breaking news, music, and sport. Based in Abuja, Vincent is a content creator passionate about telling Nigerian stories with speed, accuracy, and cultural authenticity.
