Tragedy in Ojuelegba: Sanwo-Olu orders speed test of truck owner, driver

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed the police to speed up the investigation into the container accident, which took place in the Ojuelegba area of ​​the state on Sunday, in which nine people died. currently in police custody should be prosecuted.

In addition, after receiving an interim report on the incident, the Governor also directed that the Ministry of Transport and the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) meet urgently to find a lasting solution to the threat of falling trucks. adding that all laws governing the operations of trucks and related vehicles must be enforced with greater vigor and diligence.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who gave the guidance on Monday, expressed condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the sad incident in Ojuelegba, in a press release made available to journalists by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, on Monday. and prayed to God “to comfort them and give them the strength to get through this difficult time.”

Describing the sad incident as one too many, the governor said: “It shows the irresponsibility of owners and drivers of such articulated vehicles who are required by law to look after other road users,” even though he recalled that the driver’s name, Sodiq Okanlawon and owner of the container, Wasiu Lekan, who killed three people on Oshodi/Apapa Expressway on July 26, 2020, Ilasamaja was prosecuted and convicted on February 28, 2022 and sentenced to life imprisonment by Hon. Justice Okikiolu Ighile.

“The government of Lagos State will not tolerate large containers falling off trucks and injuring or killing civilians doing their legal business. The driver (Sodiq Okanlawon) and the owner (Wasiu Lekan) of a container who killed three (3) people on July 26, 2020 on Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, Ilasamaja were prosecuted and convicted on February 28, 2022 and sentenced to life imprisonment by Hon . Justice Okikiolu Ighile.

“The state government will similarly ensure that the driver and owner of the truck involved in the January 29 incident will stand trial for the needless deaths of our dear citizens.

“With this, we hope to send a strong signal to anyone who has no respect for other people’s lives that Lagos will not tolerate their recklessness.

“They must be stopped, with the strong support of our laws, because their actions are contrary to our stated commitment to safety and decency,” the statement said.