Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commiserated with the families of those who died on Sunday in the Ojuelegba truck accident.
Nine persons died in the accident which occurred at the Ojuelegba bridge on Sunday, January 29, 2023.
Identified victims are; Miss Blessing Isioma “F”, Abdurahman Okoya Sunday “M”, Felix John Ifeanyi “M” 40year, Olatokunbo Basirat King “F’ 49years.
The Governor who received an interim report of the incident, has directed the police to speed up their investigation of the matter and also issued the following directives; “1. That the driver of the truck and the owner, who are in police custody, must be prosecuted”
“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“.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy indicates that the incident of 29th January, 2023, shows the irresponsibility of owners and drivers of such articulated vehicles who under the law should care for other road users.
It states further that 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 statement recalls that the driver and owner of a container (Sodiq Okanlawon and Wasiu Lekan) which killed three (3) people on the 26th July, 2020 on Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, Ilasamaja were prosecuted and convicted on the 28th February, 2022 and sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Okikiolu Ighile.
It says the State Government will, in a similar manner, ensure that the driver and the owner of the truck involved in the January 29th incident 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 as Lagos State 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” he maintained.
Reporting by Omolara Omosanya; editing by Julian Osamoto & Adeniyi Bakare