By Esther Onyegbula

Order has been restored along the ever-busy Sango-Ota corridor of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway following a decisive crackdown by the Ogun State Police Command on persistent traffic congestion in the area.

For commuters and motorists who have long endured hours of gridlock around the Sango-Ota under-bridge, Sunday morning brought rare relief as traffic moved steadily with minimal delays.

The impact of the intervention was evident as early as 5 a.m., with vehicles navigating the stretch more freely, a sharp contrast to the usual bottlenecks that characterise the route.

The development followed a directive by the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, under the ongoing “Operation No Traffic Gridlock,” aimed at restoring order and ensuring smooth vehicular movement across critical points in the state.

As part of the operation, police officers were strategically deployed to key congestion-prone areas, while roadside traders and illegal occupants were cleared to remove obstructions. Motorists were also compelled to adhere strictly to traffic regulations.

Senior officers, including the Area Commander of Ota, ACP Shola Oladele, and the Divisional Police Officer of Sango-Ota Division, were physically present to supervise the exercise, signalling a coordinated and high-level enforcement approach.
The Sango-Ota axis has for years been notorious for chronic congestion, worsened by ongoing reconstruction work along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, which has reduced sections of the highway from six lanes to two, thereby increasing pressure on available road space.

However, Sunday’s development demonstrated that with firm and sustained enforcement, traffic flow can be significantly improved despite existing infrastructural limitations.
The police action also included the dismantling of shanties and relocation of street traders whose activities had encroached on the roadway, further contributing to the gridlock.

While commuters have welcomed the immediate improvement, stakeholders note that enforcement alone may not provide a lasting solution to the problem.

They stressed the need for contractors handling the road project to expedite work to ease pressure on the narrowed lanes, even as authorities sustain the current level of traffic management.

Feelers from the Ogun State Police Command indicate that the operation will be maintained to prevent a relapse, raising hopes among road users that the Sango-Ota corridor may finally experience a more permanent reprieve from its long-standing traffic challenges.