Scene of the incident. Photo: LASEMA
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, has said the Federal Government may reintroduce weighbridges on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to check overloaded vehicles and reduce road accidents.
Dare disclosed this on Tuesday during a joint press conference with the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, at Otedola Bridge in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a tanker fire occurred on the bridge on Monday.
Dare said a proposal would be presented to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for possible inclusion of weighbridges in plans to upgrade the expressway with continuously reinforced concrete pavement.
According to him, weighbridges would help monitor the weight of trucks and other articulated vehicles, improve road safety and encourage checks on their braking systems.
“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.
Dare said the fire occurred when a fully loaded tanker reportedly rolled backwards and fell beneath the bridge after colliding with another vehicle.
He said the incident had raised concerns about road safety, adding that the Federal Ministry of Works would conduct a comprehensive test to assess the structural integrity of the bridge.
Dare attributed some road accidents to reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance and the removal of public infrastructure, including guardrails and solar lights.
He said more than 100 solar lights had been removed from the expressway, while indiscriminate parking by trucks and the theft of road infrastructure continued to pose challenges.
The controller said an expanded stakeholders’ meeting would be held in mid-November to address the problems.
He said the meeting would involve motorists, traditional rulers, security agencies from Lagos and Ogun states, and other relevant stakeholders.
Dare thanked the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and other emergency responders for their prompt response to the accident.
Osiyemi said the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor was often regarded as an accident-prone area but attributed many of its safety challenges to poor driving habits and inadequate vehicle maintenance.
He said the fire incident was reportedly linked to improper vehicle maintenance.
The commissioner said Lagos and Ogun states needed stronger cooperation to manage activities along the corridor.
He disclosed that the two states had received approval from the Minister of Works to organise a wider stakeholders’ meeting to address road safety concerns, indiscriminate parking and other causes of accidents.
Osiyemi said the meeting would involve the commissioners for transportation and commissioners of police in both states, among other stakeholders.
He also welcomed the proposed introduction of weighbridges on the expressway, saying some vehicles using the highway were either overloaded or unsuitable for the route.
He said, “We need weighbridges, and without that agreement, it might be tough because the corridor is one that requires collaboration.”
The commissioner urged truck owners and transport unions to educate their drivers on proper vehicle maintenance and other safe driving practices.
He said the Lagos State Government had begun its ember-month road safety campaign and deployed more personnel to the roads to reduce accidents.
Osiyemi also urged motorists travelling into and out of Lagos to exercise caution.
“It is better to travel and get to our destinations later and safely than trying to rush and die in the process,” he said.
He said that, according to a report available to him, one person sustained burn injuries in the accident and was receiving treatment in a hospital.
Osiyemi assured motorists that the bridge was safe to use, citing the controller’s assessment, while noting that a comprehensive structural test would be conducted.
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 also attended the briefing.
NAN