Scores escape death as container falls in Lagos

By Steve Agbota

Scores of commuters and traders cheated death in the early hours yesterday as a cargo-laden 40ft container fell off a truck in Lagos.

The incident happened at the popular Oke Afa area in Ejigbo Local Government, during the peak period.

The container loaded with export produce, which left Olamide Street and was heading to one of the Lagos Ports, fell on a kiosk where several people played a popular bet.

Daily Sun learnt that the incident happened during the heavy traffic at Benson Akinyele Street junction, where several buses were loading Toyota/Ladipo, Isolo, Mushin and Cele passengers.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and other security agencies were on ground to maintain order and control traffic after the incident.

Residents around Oke Afa, who spoke with the Daily Sun blamed the road contractors for excavating the sounds on the road and selling it, which led to the bad state of the road.

Mr. Joe Ejike claimed the contractors were slow with the construction of the road, stressing that the Lagos State Ministry of Works should investigate the activities slowing down the construction work on the road.

“Thousands of vehicles, traders and residents are plying the Oke Afa/Jakande Road every day, and it is one of the busiest roads in Lagos because it connects so many routes. The road links Ejigbo, Isolo, Cele, Ago Palace Way, Canoe/Ajao Estate, Ijegun, Egbeda, Ikotun and others.

“The road has been bad and neglected for years. It was two years ago that they started the reconstruction of the road but we have not witnessed any development. Even the portion that the contractors were able to do cannot last because they made use of inferior materials. We want the Lagos State Government to investigate the road,” he said.

Olabisi Henry also blamed the bad state of the road and potholes for the incident.

“Imagine if the container had killed commuters as the road was busy this morning, the situation would have been so bad, as traffic around this area would have been paralysed due to business activities. The government should do more to rehabilitate bad portions to avert disasters like this.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu needs to sit up and do some palliatives on these roads. If not for God, who knows how many innocent souls that would have gone today? The road needs urgent repair,” he added.