It was a tough day for motorists and commuters, as both ends of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were grounded by traffic on Saturday.

Although it is not uncommon for the Expressway to be this way since the reconstruction of the Long Bridge axis of the highway commenced in 2021, Sunday PUNCH gathered that the situation was compounded by travellers who were travelling to different towns to celebrate Sallah.

Wary faces, hungry women, crying children and trekking feet lined the sidewalks, as the sun blasted at its apex.

A young mother donning a hijab and strapped a baby on her bag dragged her two kids across the Berger Bus Stop overhead bridge to the other side in search of a bus going to the Mowe-Ibafo axis.

For hours, our correspondent who monitored the situation at the bus stop saw first-hand that no bus was headed in that direction because of the terrible traffic situation.

The mother, who gave her name only as Halima said she was coming from Ojota and was headed for Ibadan to celebrate the Sallah.

“I am exhausted. I have been standing at Berger for more than two hours and have not seen a bus to take me and my kids to Mowe so we can find our way to Ibadan from there. The ones that have come call exorbitant amounts and end up not going when they see the traffic ahead.

“My daughters have been crying. I am frustrated. I feel like going back home but even the other end of the road is also blocked because of people taking ‘one way’ (driving against traffic).”

She also lamented that transport fares have tripled, stating that the motorists have inflated the prices to make more gain.

“Yesterday, I went to Arepo to see my younger sister who is unwell, and I paid N300 from Berger. Today (Saturday), the bus drivers are demanding N1500. “That is more than a 300 per cent increment from yesterday’s fare, and I am not even prepared for that.

“I have budgeted myself on how much will take me to Ibadan, and I can’t spend everything on just Berger to Mowe. I am sincerely tired,” she said.

Another woman who looked pregnant sat on the pavement of the Berger Bus Stop. She had her left hand on her chin and she looked really tired.

When asked how long she had been at the bus stop, she said, “I got here by 2.12 pm and I am still here till now. Look at the time; it is past 4 pm. Any bus that comes will say N1500 or N1200. Where will I get that money from? I am just going to Warewa.”

She said she went to church at Obalende and took a bus to Iyana Oworo. Her trouble started when she could not get a bus from Iyana Oworo straight to Wawa and she decided to cut the journey by first going to Berger. Punch