ROTIMI ASHER, Lagos
As Lagos State Government commiserates with the families who lost their loved ones in the Ojuelegba truck accident on Sunday, January 29, 2023, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu has directed the police to give a speedy trial to the prosecution of the truck owner and driver.
Nine persons died in the accident, as the unlatched container of the truck fell off
Speaking after receiving an interim report of the incident, he directed the police to speed up their investigation of the matter.
©Copyright MOTORING WORLD INTERNATIONAL. All rights reserved. Materials, photographs, illustrations and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior written permission from Motoring World International
Contact:Â info@motoringworldng.com
He also gave the following directives: “the driver of the truck and the owner, who are in police custody, must be prosecuted;Â Ministry of Transportation and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) should meet urgently to find a lasting solution to the menace of falling trucks”
According to him, “all the laws governing the operations of trucks and related vehicles must be enforced with more vigour 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.”
Sanwo-olu said, “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.”
He said, “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.”
“In a similar manner, he stressed, ” the state government will 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,” he added.
