Traffic on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway has been at a near standstill since the early hours of Saturday, stranding thousands of commuters amid the 73rd Annual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

The weeklong convention, themed “The Overcomers” and hosted at Redemption City, Kilometre 46 of the highway, has drawn tens of thousands of worshippers from across Nigeria and abroad. But the influx of vehicles has choked movement on both lanes, with the worst hit section stretching from OPIC and Mowe through Lotto, Pakuro, NASFAT, Asese, Ibafo, and beyond.

Some motorists told The National Day they had spent over five hours covering short distances, while others abandoned their trips entirely. Public transport fares have spiked as operators take advantage of desperate passengers, forcing many to trek long distances under the sun.

Traffic management teams, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), are battling to ease the flow, but movement remains painfully slow. Authorities are urging travellers to consider alternative routes.

As of press time, there was no official estimate for when normal traffic would resume, and the gridlock showed no sign of clearing.

The RCCG convention, which began on August 4, is set to conclude on Sunday, raising concerns that outbound traffic could worsen as participants head home.