• Oyo traffic agency decries reckless driving in Ibadan
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has expressed profound regret over a fatal vehicular crash at Origan, Oko-Afo, along the Badagry Expressway corridor during the weekend.

The tragic accident involved a commercial tricycle with registration number MUS 716 QM and a Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) bearing the customised plate “OSUNFNKE.”

According to preliminary investigations, the SUV driver was travelling against the flow of traffic (commonly referred to as driving ‘One-Way’) from Ile-Epo towards Oko-Afo. The reckless manoeuvre led to a head-on collision with the oncoming tricycle.

The impact was catastrophic, leaving the tricycle operator with multiple traumatic injuries, including a critical knee dislocation. The victim was confirmed dead at the scene. Witnesses reported that the SUV driver fled immediately, abandoning his vehicle and the victim.

LASTMA operatives swiftly secured the scene and escalated the matter to the Morogbo Division of the Nigeria Police Force, which took control of the situation. Officers from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) conveyed the victim’s body to the mortuary at the General Hospital in Badagry for further processing. LASTMA personnel also removed the damaged vehicles from the roadway to ease traffic congestion, with both vehicles handed over to the police for forensic investigation and potential prosecution.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condemned the incident, describing the driver’s actions as a flagrant violation of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.

“This lamentable loss of life is an unfortunate testament to the deadly ramifications of impunity on our roads,” he stated. In a related development, the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) condemned the reckless driving of a tricycle rider who also violated traffic regulations by driving against the flow of traffic in Ibadan.

The incident, which occurred near a petrol station on Thursday morning, resulted in severe injuries to a passer-by, Oladayo Adisa, who was crossing the road when the crash occurred.

The Chairman of OYRTMA, Major Adekoya Adesagba (rtd.), described the incident as a worrying reminder of the dangers posed by traffic violations.

“Mr Adisa was caught off guard and sustained severe injuries due to the carelessness of the tricycle rider,” Adesagba said. “The government will not tolerate this reckless behaviour. We will continue to enforce traffic regulations rigorously to ensure the safety of all road users.”