The Lagos State government has vowed to enforce a strict “no truck” policy across the state following a devastating gas truck explosion under the Otedola Bridge on Tuesday night. The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, announced this after leading a team from the ministry to assess the accident scene. He emphasized that the truck involved had violated Lagos State law by ignoring a “no truck allowed” sign, prompting the government to take decisive action to prevent future incidents.
Assessment of the Accident
Osiyemi stated that the ministry’s visit aimed to evaluate the situation and identify measures to avert similar accidents.
“We came here to do an assessment of the situation of what happened two days ago. We’ve sent an initial team, but we had to come ourselves to confirm the situation and also see what actually went wrong. What we’ve been able to see immediately is the fact that there’s a road sign right there that says ‘no truck allowed.’ For the truck to be on this axis, evidently, it’s violated the law of Lagos State,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted the unsuitability of the road for heavy trucks, describing it as undulated and poorly motorable. He announced plans to enforce the “no truck” policy more rigorously, potentially through the installation of barriers to restrict access for such vehicles.
Addressing Poor Truck Maintenance
Osiyemi attributed the accident to poor truck maintenance, noting that many truck owners fail to properly inspect and maintain their vehicles. This negligence, he said, has contributed to a surge in truck-related accidents on Lagos roads.
To tackle this issue, the state government is collaborating with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to inspect trucks and ensure they are roadworthy.
“There’s a lot of collaboration ongoing on how to, one, inspect these trucks and make sure they are roadworthy, and, two, if they are not roadworthy, of course, they are going to be confiscated. We will do our role by inspecting and clamping down on trucks that are not roadworthy,” Osiyemi stated.
Infrastructure Concerns and Integrity Tests
The commissioner also addressed concerns about cracks observed on Otedola Bridge and the surrounding drainage system. He assured that the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works, would conduct an integrity test on the bridge to ensure its safety for motorists.
“Typically, when we do this kind of assessment, we don’t limit it to the Ministry of Transportation alone. We also observed a little crack, not just on the bridge but in some parts of the drainage system. Immediately, we’re going to escalate this to the Ministry of Environment for them to do the needful, especially as the rainy season approaches,” Osiyemi explained.
He added that the integrity test on the bridge would be conducted promptly, likely before the end of the week, to confirm its structural soundness.
Implications of the Policy
The enforcement of the “no truck” policy and the crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles are part of broader efforts by the Lagos State government to enhance road safety and prevent accidents. These measures are expected to reduce the frequency of truck-related incidents, which have become a growing concern in the state.
Conclusion
The Lagos State government’s response to the Otedola Bridge fire underscores its commitment to public safety and infrastructure maintenance. By enforcing stricter regulations on truck movement and ensuring the roadworthiness of vehicles, the state aims to create safer roads for all motorists. The upcoming integrity test on the bridge will further reassure residents of its safety as the government works to prevent future tragedies.
