A tragic lone accident on the Third Mainland Bridge on Thursday night has left one person dead, sparking concerns over road safety on one of Nigeria’s busiest highways.
According to a late-night statement issued by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the incident occurred near the UNILAG Waterfront, in the direction of Adekunle, and involved a heavily loaded mini truck that reportedly lost control.
Eyewitnesses told Ireport247new, that the truck had been swerving moments before it crashed. “We saw the truck veering off dangerously, and before anyone could react, it hit the median and toppled,” said Tunde Adebayo, a commercial driver who was on the bridge at the time of the incident.
Emergency response teams, including officials of LASTMA and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), arrived swiftly to secure the accident scene, evacuate the wreckage, and manage the evening traffic buildup. One fatality was confirmed, though the identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
“We can confirm a lone accident involving a loaded mini truck near UNILAG Waterfront. Sadly, it resulted in one casualty,” LASTMA stated via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle. “Efforts are ongoing to clear the debris and restore normal traffic flow.”
As of Friday morning, normalcy had returned to the bridge, but the incident has left many shaken. Social media users, especially Lagos residents, flooded platforms with tributes and calls for stricter truck regulations.
The Third Mainland Bridge, connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, is notorious for heavy traffic and recurring vehicular mishaps—particularly those involving articulated trucks and poorly maintained commercial vehicles.
Experts have called for stricter enforcement of vehicle inspection protocols and better regulation of cargo transport at night, citing the recurring danger posed by overworked or undertrained truck drivers.
Transportation analyst, Nnamdi Okoye, told Ireport247new that “This tragedy is one of many that point to a systemic failure in regulating cargo movement. Many of these trucks have faulty brakes and operate at night without adequate visibility or trained drivers.”
He emphasized the need for the Lagos State government to revisit roadworthiness certification for trucks and to possibly consider time restrictions for cargo movement across critical infrastructure like the Third Mainland Bridge.
This latest fatality adds to the growing tally of road deaths in Lagos State in 2025, with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) estimating over 1,300 accidents between January and March alone—many of them involving lone trucks or commercial vehicles operating under poor mechanical conditions.
Advocates for road safety are now renewing their calls for improved driver training and emergency response protocols, especially on major bridges and highways.
LASTMA has urged drivers to remain cautious and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on long journeys, particularly