•Stakeholders proffer solutions to accidents
By Ngozi Nwoke
On January 31, two persons were killed and several others injured when a 40-foot container-laden truck crushed three tricycles in the Ikotun area of Lagos State. It was gathered that the truck was descending a sloppy section of the road inward Ikotun Market when its brakes failed.
Two days earlier, January 29, tragedy struck at Ojuelegba, Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State, when a container-laden truck fell on a commercial minibus, popularly called Korope, killing seven occupants in the process. A female passenger was rescued alive and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
On October 13, 2022, three persons lost their lives when a truck carrying a 40-foot container fell and knocked two vehicles into a river in the Eleme axis of the East-West Road, Rivers State.
On December 8, 2022, a truck fell on a tricycle, killing its three occupants instantly and leaving the driver trapped in Ojota, Lagos State.
On August 20, 2021, a Toyota Camry car with three occupants was trapped under a truck that fell off the Ojuelegba Bridge. No life was lost, but the occupants only escaped death by chance with the help of emergency responders.
Endless list
IReport from the website of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) showed that 5,724 container-related accidents have occurred in Abuja, Ogun, Rivers, Oyo, Kwara and Abia states, with Lagos State recording the highest number of casualties from January 2019 till date. The commission attributed the cause of the accidents to human and mechanical flaws, adding that the majority were avoidable.
The sector commander FRSC, Lagos, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the commission was doing everything to curtail the excesses of truck drivers in the state, refuting the claim that the commission was not doing enough.
He said: “I agree that we have not gotten to the point we need to get when it comes to curtailing this mishap caused by container-laden trucks due to some compromises in the system. But compared to the level of incidents we used to experience in the past, I would confidently say that the commission has improved and is improving significantly as time goes and is not lagging behind in fulfilling its obligations and duties. So far, we have arrested over 800 trucks for not adhering to the safety directives of the commission in safe-locking their containers.
“If you look at where we are coming from, virtually every day, you would see issues of crashes involving tankers, containers falling on people. And that was what brought about the policy of latching and twist-locking. What we have witnessed so far is quite unfortunate that we had to lose a life.
“Before now, we have been having these issues of containers happening, maybe due to bad roads and misconduct of the drivers. But lives have not really been lost because of a policy. The recent event would have been more devastating if not for the policy of making sure that the container is twist-locked or latched. Until people begin to take responsibility for their misbehaviour and misconduct on the highway, it will continue to be business as usual. But the narrative has changed.”
Ogungbemide stressed that inadequate security measures were a challenge for the commission, adding that whenever there were accidents of any sort, security was needed to protect its personnel as they execute their duties.
He said: “If an accident occurs at odd hours, we need security mobilization on ground to ensure the safety of both our personnel and the accident victims. While we recommend the construction of barricades on the Ojuelegba Bridge to restrict the movement of articulated vehicles, which would serve as a permanent solution to the recurring crashes, we have always collaborated with sister bodies to achieve less recurrence and we shall continue to carry out our tasks diligently as expected.”
Speaking on the incidents, permanent secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, also stated that lack of safety-consciousness by truck drivers was the major cause of the recurrent accidents.
Oke-Osanyintolu faulted vandals for removing metal barriers around the bridge, which should have prevented the trucks from falling over. He also said truck drivers were failing to do due diligence in securing their containers to their trucks.
“Accidents over the years may have damaged the barriers, but if it was just the accidents, you would still see the metal. They have been vandalised. These accidents could have been avoided,” he said.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde, the recurrent accidents were as a result of sheer negligence and the carelessness of the truck drivers and container owners.
On the implementation of the restriction to nighttime driving and dedicated routes in the state, Oladeinde said: “The number of trailers and trucks that fall on our roads is very alarming. It is important that we protect the people of Lagos State and it is important that we protect their property.
“Container-laden trucks are not allowed to travel during the day; it has to be at night between 9pm and 6am. They have to abide by this timing in accordance with the Transportation Law, 2018. The state is working with the federal ministry of works and housing to install vehicle/truck barriers on the inward and outward sections of the bridge.
“We share the grief of those who lost their loved ones in the accident and pray that the Almighty will strengthen them at this difficult time. The government would continue to implement its transport master plan, which had safety strategies to ensure safer roads.”
Reacting to the issue, the Lagos State Government, in a statement by the commissioner, information and strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said measures will be put in place to stop the tragedy.
“The Lagos State Government commiserates with the families who lost their loved ones in the Ojuelegba truck accident on Sunday, January 29, 2023. May the Almighty console them and grant them the strength to go through this difficult time. Nine persons died in the accident.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, after receiving an interim report of the incident, has directed the police to speed up their investigation of the matter to enable the prosecution of the truck driver and owner.
“The governor also directed that the Ministry of Transportation and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) should meet urgently to find a lasting solution to the menace of falling trucks; and all the laws governing the operations of trucks and related vehicles must be enforced with more vigour and diligence. The incident of 29th January, 2023, is one too many and it shows the irresponsibility of owners and drivers of such articulated vehicles who under the law should care for other road users.
“The Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for large containers that fall off trucks and injure or kill citizens, who are going about their lawful businesses. The state government will ensure that the drivers and owners of the trucks involved in the avoidable incidents are put on trial for the needless death of our dear citizens.
“This, we hope, will send a strong message to all those who have no regard for other people’s lives that Lagos will not condone their recklessness. They must be stopped, with the strong backing of our laws, because their actions offend our avowed commitment to safety and decency.”
The Lagos State Government signed the Road Traffic Law in 2012, which restricts trailers and heavy-duty trucks from plying the highway between 9pm and 6am. However, the strict implementation of this law still remains futile as findings reveal that many of these trucks have continued to operate the highways outside the regulated time ascribed for them with no sanctions.
Industrialist and executive chairman, Blue Diamond Logistics Group, Festus Mbisiogu, blamed the government for the deplorable roads that cause accidents.
Mbisiogu said: “I own a container and I am most concerned about these avoidable deaths that have claimed the lives of many innocent people. The major cause of these accidents is the terrible condition of the roads. The government has neglected these roads for too long.
“Places like Ajegunle and the rest are typical examples of places that need urgent government attention. There is an existing Road Traffic Law and policy that guides against heavy-duty trucks and trailers from operating in the day because these operators of the heavy-duty trucks have constituted major safety concerns for Nigerians. But the big task lies on all enforcement agencies in restricting the activities of truck drivers to the evening or midnight with the intention to stop these deaths from recurring.”
Mbisiogu expressed worry over the lifespan of trucks that ply the highways daily, stating that this situation calls for a strict enforcement from the government regarding the age limit of haulage vehicles on the road.
“Accidents involving trucks carrying containers are caused by bad roads, sharp bends, the indiscriminate parking of commercial vehicles on the roadside in a bid to pick passengers. Sometimes in motion, these vehicles stop unexpectedly. These truck owners would try to overload containers, just to cut costs, while putting the lives of others at risk.
“They are not supposed to fill the container till it gets to the roof. There is a level a to get to but some people package goods to the top. So, when it approaches a sharp bend the weight of the consignment will overpower the truck.
“The other issue is the activities of the commercial drivers. They are meant to stop at the park but when they are in motion, they do not mind that a heavy-duty truck is behind them. Once they see a passenger, they will just switch lanes. If the driver switches lanes quickly, it could cause an accident. Commercial drivers should park at designated bus stops.
“It is very unfortunate that the government of today has not understood the consequences of heavy-duty trucks on our road by day and that is why they are not keen on doing anything about it. In developed countries like China, where I was based and operated my business, I have been privileged to understand their road/traffic operation.
“Most of these drivers have not been trained and taught the mechanisms of handling these heavy-duty trucks and trailers. This is why they are not mindful of overloading and speed. Most of them are exhausted because they are given targets by their employers, which they must meet. There are tendencies that they may fall asleep while driving. Some of them are also under the influence of illicit drugs,” he said.