On Saturday, September 2nd, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, led by Akinde Olusola, prevented a potential fire disaster near the Stadium Bridge heading towards the Ojuelegba area of the state. According to a press release from Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Officer Akinde Olusola from Zone 3 in the Iponri area of Surulere confirmed that a gas truck with the license plate number KRD 281 XL hit the newly installed barrier at Alaka heading towards the Stadium. As the gas truck tried to maneuver itself under the barrier, its gas content spilled onto the main road by the Alaka heading towards the Stadium bridge.
According to him, “Immediately the incident occurred, LASTMA officials quickly invited other emergency responders, particularly the Lagos State Fire Service, and condoned off the main carriageway at Alaka by Stadium bridge for motorists to avert any fire.
“While the driver of the truck was arrested and handed over to policemen from Area ‘C’ Divisional Police Station, vehicular movement was diverted to the service lane from Alaka to continue their movement inward Ojuelegba by LASTMA officials.”
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, was quoted as saying that the newly erected barrier at the Stadium bridge was to divert heavy trucks to the service lane from Alaka inward Stadium down to Ojuelegba.
It is advisable for heavy truck drivers to use the service lane when traveling between Stadium and Ojuelegba in Lagos, as recommended by Oreagba. Unfortunately, there have been numerous accidents reported in the Ojuelegba area. On January 29, 2023, a container-laden truck fell off the Ojuelegba bridge and crushed a commercial bus, resulting in the death of eight passengers. Only one person was rescued by LASTMA.
According to an eyewitness, “The truck driver wanted to block the bus from overtaking him.”
The Lagos State Government banned truck drivers from using the Dorman Long and Ojuelegba bridges and also directed LASTMA to apprehend erring drivers.
The directive was contained in a letter dated February 6, 2023, issued by the Special Adviser on Transportation to the Governor, Sola Giwa, and was addressed to the LASTMA General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba.
On Friday, March 10, a 40ft container fell off a trailer on the Ojuelegba bridge inward Stadium, while two other similar incidents were reported in the Ikeja and Mile 12 areas of the state.
On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, LASTMA said it had formed a task force with men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, in order to address the incessant truck crashes on Ojuelegba Bridge and other road accidents in the state.
Oreagba said, “Sequel to the need to prevent further loss of lives and properties through truck crashes on Ojuelegba bridge, LASTMA had deployed trained officers to redirect heavy-duty trucks/tankers from Ojuelegba bridge at Ikorodu road.”