In the wake of the truck mishap that claimed the lives of nine passengers at Ojelegba on Sunday, Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the trial of the truck owner and driver as he assured that more measures will be taken to avert recurrence.
Sanwo-Olu commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones to the tragic accident as he prayed to God to console them and grant them the much-needed fortitude to bear the loss.
Some of the nine victims who lost their lives to the accident were identified as, Miss Blessing Isioma “F”, Abdurahman Okoya Sunday “M”, Felix John Ifeanyi “M” 40year and Olatokunbo Basirat King “F’ 49years.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, after receiving an interim report of the incident, has directed the police to speed up their investigation of the matter.
The governor in his statement directed that, “The driver of the truck and the owner, who are in police custody, must be prosecuted; 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 vigor 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 driver (Sodiq Okanlawon) and owner (Wasiu Lekan) of a container 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 Hon. Justice Okikiolu Ighile.
“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 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.”
