The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to operators of articulated vehicles, tankers and trucks, urging strict compliance with traffic laws and speed limits to prevent further loss of lives on the state’s roads.
The warning was issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, following a crash involving a speeding heavy-duty truck conveying Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and a privately owned vehicle at the crest of Apakun Bridge, inward Oshodi.
Reacting to the incident, Giwa said the state government would not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against any driver found guilty of reckless or unlawful driving that endangers public safety.
Preliminary security assessments revealed that the CNG truck, bearing registration number EKY 120 YK, violated established traffic safety standards while speeding and rammed into a moving silver-coloured Toyota Corolla with registration number EKY 289 HM.
“The force of the collision caused severe traffic disruption and posed an immediate and existential threat to lives and property within the surrounding area,” Giwa said.
He disclosed that two unsuspecting pedestrians were struck during the crash, while the driver of the Toyota Corolla sustained severe and life-threatening injuries.
According to him, officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) swiftly mobilised to the scene, successfully rescuing and extricating the injured victims from the wreckage. The victims were immediately transported to a nearby medical facility, where they are currently receiving intensive medical care.
To ensure public safety and maintain order during rescue and evacuation operations, personnel of the Ajao Estate Police Division provided security support, preventing secondary incidents and ensuring a seamless emergency response.
Giwa added that due to the highly combustible nature of the truck’s cargo, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were strategically deployed to avert any potential explosion or fire outbreak.
Condemning the rising cases of road traffic accidents caused by excessive speeding, particularly among truck and tanker operators, Giwa described such behaviour as grossly irresponsible, dangerously negligent and incompatible with the Lagos State Government’s vision of a safe, orderly and efficiently regulated transportation system.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing traffic regulations and protecting lives across the state.