When Blessing Isioma, Abdurahman Okoya Sunday, Felix John Ifeanyi, and Olatokunbo Basirat King left their various homes on Sunday, January 29 2023, they never knew they would not return to their homes alive. They had no idea they would join others who have become victims of Nigeria’s negligence to societal problems.
On Sunday, January 29, a truck conveying a 20ft container fell on a commercial minibus at the Ojuelegba bridge, inwards Fadeyi, Lagos State. The sad, avoidable accident claimed eight lives.
Among the fatalities comprise a young girl and boy. The future of two children is miserably cut short due to uneducation, indiscipline, illiteracy and lawlessness, among others.
Accidents involving trailers, trucks, tankers and other vehicles are no new occurrences on the ever-busy Ojuelegba bridge. Many lives have been lost as a result of trailers or trucks falling off the notorious bridge.
“I’m beginning to think the Ojuelegba bridge was deliberately designed to sacrifice humans to the Ojuelegba deity,” @PEC_Concepts, a Twitter user, wrote. “Call me crazy, but how else do you explain Lagos government’s lackadaisical attitude for decades towards this yearly or biannual sad events at the same bridge?”
While these persistent accidents are worrying, what is more worrying is the nonchalance of the government of Lagos state in checkmating the morass.
In 2018, three people died, while others were left injured when a truck carrying plywood fell on a commercial bus, other vehicles and pedestrians under the Ojuelegba bridge.
In April 2022, there was a casualty after a trailer fell off the bridge and landed on top of a car under the bridge. About seven months earlier, in November 2021, a container had fallen off the same bridge, and landed on top of a car with four passengers.
Nigeria happened to all of them and they are added to the continually growing list of victims of failed leadership.
“In the UK, I’ve never seen a truck within city. I don’t understand why we cannot just prioritize education that will basically solve problems,” wrote @bimbola_adebajo, another Twitter user lamenting the sad realities of the country.
Education is pivotal to finding solutions to socioeconomic problems in Nigeria, and until it is given unrivaled attention and priority will Nigeria and her people experience real advancement.
@Omoluabi72, another Twitter user, pondered: “Still don’t understand why trucks are allowed to take the bridge instead of down.
“That bridge is curved, when going up, [there] are possibilities of a container falling,” he explained. “Moreso, those yellow buses love to pick passengers at the foot of that bridge, pretty souls are lost again, rip.”
While @paulgreene suggested that trucks move at night between hours of 9 or 10 pm to 5am, other challenges plague Nigerian roads like robbery, kidnapping, potholes and darkness, among others.
A tweep argues that the best way to transport containers is through the railroad.
“Railways are functioning now, what stops the government from getting those coaches that can take containers from ports to wherever?” asked @Omoluabi72, rhetorically.
It was gathered that only one out of nine passengers involved was rescued alive. An eyewitness account placed the truck driver in the wrong, who wanted to block the bus from overtaking.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered a thorough investigation into Sunday’s accident in Ojuelegba which claimed eight lives. Sanwo-Olu, on behalf of the people and government, sympathized with the families of those who died in the unfortunate incident.
However, in truth, the families need more than sympathy. Nigerians need solutions, one which will emerge through education.
