Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu orders speedy trial of the driver, truck owner of the Ojuelegba carnage

Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Justice will not only be done but will be seen to have been transparently done

VICTIMS IDENTIFIED:

i. Miss Blessing Isioma “F”
ii. Abdurahman Okoya Sunday “M”
iii. Felix John Ifeanyi “M” 40years
iv. Olatokunbo Basirat King “F’ 49years

The peoples’ Governor who’s resolute in marshaling the meteoric rise of a greater Lagos, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has directed the prompt prosecution of the driver, and owner of the articulated vehicle carrying the 40 feet container that fell and killed nine (9) souls on Sunday, 29th January 2023, at the foot of Ojuelegba overpass.

A statement by the State Government and signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, announced that the driver of the truck and its owner are already in Police custody.

According to the statement, the Governor had also directed a very urgent meeting between the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, and the management of the Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, to brainstorm and generate “a lasting solution to the menace of falling trucks” in Lagos state.

**40 Feet container fell off a truck and killed nine occupants in the commercial mini passenger bus, Sunday 29th January 2023**

Sanwo-Olu also enjoined all the agencies of government concerned with the execution of the Lagos State Public Transportation Reform Law, as amended, to ensure adequate enforcement without fear or favour but exclusively execute its enforcement in accordance with the letters and the spirit of the road safety law.

The Lagos State Government reiterated that it “has zero tolerance for large containers that fall off trucks and injure or kill citizens, who are going about their lawful businesses”.

Hence, the statement condemned in its entirety that, the accident 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 media statement lamented.

To serve as a deterrent to others, the government recalled how it allowed justice to run its full course in a similar road accident on the 26th of July 2020, on the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, at Ilasamaja, where a truck driver carrying a container drove with reckless abandon which led to the killing of three (3) people.

**The menacing movement of the truck moment before it fell with its container**

According to the media statement, the driver (Sodiq Okanlawon) and the owner (Wasiu Lekan) of the 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”.

Thus the State Government rekindled hope for Lagosians, especially families of those who lost their loved ones to the Ojuelegba accident that, the Lagos 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”.

Moreover, the Lagos State Government commiserated with the families who lost their loved ones in the Ojuelegba truck accident on Sunday, 29th January 2023.

May The Almighty God console them and grant them the strength to bear the agonizing pain at this difficult time.
Nine persons died in the accident.

**The truck with its container blocking about 90% of the road space at Dopemu, Monday 30th January 2023**

IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS, ANOTHER TRUCK SPILLS 40 FEET CONTAINER
An articulated vehicle had also in the early hours of Monday, 30th January 2023, spilled its 40 feet container on the road along the Dopemu area of Lagos state.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a tweet on Monday.

The agency also shared a short clip of an un-road worthy, 40-feet container-laden decrepit truck, saying the container was “occupying 90 percent of the road”.

The LASTMA official Twitter handle stated thus:
LASTMA
@followlastma
Follow
[9:25AM] #LagAbkExpWay #RoadIncident A 40ft container-laden truck fell at Sawmill inward Dopemu under the bridge, it’s occupying 90 percent of the road. Our men are on ground doing the needful as Effort is on for recovery. @trafficbutter @TrafficChiefNG @Gidi_Traffic #followlastma.