18 die in three road crashes along Lagos-Ibadan expressway

• Motorists decry slow pace of reconstruction • NSCDC partners FRSC to curb overspeeding

No fewer than 18 persons have died in three separate road crashes within five days on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The spokesperson for the Ogun State sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mrs Florence Okpe, confirmed yesterday that the accidents, which occurred between Friday and Tuesday, also injured six others. She attributed the accidents to speeding, wrongful overtaking, and the lack of adequate rest, which led to fatigue, among other factors.

“The FRSC is appealing to motorists to maintain the stipulated speed and refrain from wrongful overtaking to stem road crashes on the highway. In addition, they should take adequate rest to avoid fatigue, which may result in sleeping off on the wheels, thus leading to accidents,” Okpe stated. She advised motorists always to ensure regular checks on their vehicles to correct defects that could lead to avoidable vehicular malfunction.

Meanwhile, motorists and commuters have decried the delay in completing the Ojoo end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway project. They expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work, which recently led to frequent crashes at different road sections.

They called on the Federal Government to prevail on the construction company, Reynold Construction Company (RCC), to expedite action on the project. About 16 people died in an accident involving multiple vehicles at the Agbowo-Ojoo section of the road on Tuesday.

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 17 other people sustained varying degrees of injuries in the crash of four vehicles. FRSC attributed the cause of the accident to the brake failure of a Mack, which, consequently, collided with the other vehicles.

An eyewitness said RCC’s obstruction of one side of the road caused the truck to collide with oncoming vehicles. Also, Lagos State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Adedotun Keshinro, affirmed the corps’ synergy with FRSC to tackle overspeeding in the state.

He spoke when he received the Sector Commander, FRSC Lagos State Command, Patrick Davou, and some team members in his office at Alausa, Ikeja. Keshinro assured that he would continue to render adequate operational services to the FRSC, especially to boost their morale and provide backup during necessary assignments.

He expressed hope that these efforts will further help drastically reduce avoidable road crashes, enhance safety and reduce mortality on roads, which are often caused by overspeeding.

Responding, Davou identified overspending as one of the top factors necessitating road crashes and their preceding ugly and gory consequences. He warned motorists against the act and advised them always to take caution.