The Federal Government is considering reintroducing weighbridges on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to prevent overloading by trucks and other articulated vehicles and reduce road accidents.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, disclosed this on Tuesday during a joint press briefing with the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, at Otedola Bridge in Lagos.
The briefing followed a tanker fire at the bridge on Monday, which raised fresh concerns about safety along the busy expressway.
Dare said a proposal would be submitted to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, within a week to consider incorporating weighbridges into the planned upgrade of the expressway using continuously reinforced concrete pavement.
He explained that the facilities would help authorities monitor the weight of trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles, strengthen road safety enforcement and ensure that vehicles’ braking systems were properly checked.
“Within the next week, we will present a proposal to the minister to see how weighbridges can be incorporated into the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,” he said.
On the tanker fire, Dare said preliminary accounts indicated that a fully loaded tanker rolled backwards and fell beneath the bridge after colliding with another vehicle.
He added that the Federal Ministry of Works would carry out a comprehensive structural assessment to determine the condition of the bridge following the incident.
The controller identified reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance and the removal of public infrastructure as some of the factors contributing to road accidents along the expressway.
According to him, more than 100 solar lights had been removed from the highway, while indiscriminate truck parking and the theft of road infrastructure continued to undermine safety.
Dare said an expanded stakeholders’ meeting would be held in mid-November to develop measures to address the challenges. The meeting is expected to involve motorists, traditional rulers, security agencies from Lagos and Ogun states, and other relevant stakeholders.
He also commended the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, and other emergency responders for their prompt intervention following Monday’s incident.
Speaking at the briefing, Osiyemi described the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor as an area frequently associated with road accidents, noting that poor driving habits and inadequate vehicle maintenance contributed significantly to the problem.
The commissioner said the tanker fire was reportedly linked to improper vehicle maintenance and stressed the need for stronger cooperation between Lagos and Ogun states to improve safety along the corridor.
He disclosed that the two states had obtained approval from the Minister of Works to convene a broader stakeholders’ meeting to address road safety concerns, illegal parking and other factors responsible for accidents.
According to Osiyemi, the meeting would bring together the transportation commissioners and commissioners of police from both states, alongside other relevant stakeholders.
He welcomed the proposed introduction of weighbridges, arguing that some vehicles operating on the expressway were either overloaded or unsuitable for the route.
“We need weighbridges, and without that agreement, it might be tough because the corridor is one that requires collaboration,” he said.
Osiyemi urged truck owners and transport unions to educate their drivers on proper vehicle maintenance and safe driving practices.
He added that the Lagos State Government had launched its ember-month road safety campaign and deployed additional personnel to the roads to help reduce accidents during the period.
The commissioner also appealed to motorists travelling into and out of Lagos to exercise caution, stressing that arriving safely was more important than rushing to reach their destinations.
“It is better to travel and get to our destinations later and safely than trying to rush and die in the process,” he said.
Osiyemi further disclosed that a report available to him indicated that one person sustained burn injuries in the tanker incident and was receiving treatment in a hospital.
He assured motorists that the bridge was safe for use, citing the assessment by the Federal Controller of Works, while noting that a comprehensive structural test would still be conducted.
Also present at the briefing were the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Olalekan Bakare-Oki; the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Wale Musa; and other officials of the Federal Ministry of Works.
Otedola Bridge fire: FG moves to introduce weighbridges on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway