Ogun sets up task force to check carnages on roads

•State Records 119 Deaths In Two Months

The Ogun State Government has concluded plans to set up a taskforce on road enforcement, to curb incessant crashes in the state.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dairo, who disclosed this, yesterday, in Abeokuta, during an emergency meeting with truck owners, law enforcement agencies, and other transport stakeholders, said some accidents involving heavy-duty trucks, were caused by human errors.

Meanwhile, a report by the police during the meeting revealed a total of 119 deaths were recorded in January and February alone, while 204 sustained various levels of injuries.

Dairo assured the state would re-enforce strict adherence to the Code of Practices for drivers and operators of articulated lorries, as well as other relevant standards and regulations governing their activities.

“We need to work together. A taskforce will be set up, comprising Ministry of Transportation; truck owners; law enforcement agencies; drivers and other stakeholders to look into this and proffer solutions as soon as possible,” he said.

While encouraging the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) to combat the problem by reinforcing the conduct of routine vehicle inspections and implementing a more effective accreditation, Dairo enjoined all law enforcement agencies to put hands on deck at putting an end to the hazard.

Also speaking, his counterpart in Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Olusegun Olatunji berated truck drivers for reckless driving.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP. Lanre Balogun, represented by Commander of the Motor Traffic Division (MTD), SP. Christy Okpagboro, said Truck Owners’ Association should organise sensitisation programmes for drivers regularly to avert fatalities on the roads.

The Corps Commander, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Commandant Seni Ogunyemi, tasked truck owners to monitor the drivers they employ and ensure they do not violate traffic rules to prevent accidents.

The Chairman, Ogun State Unified Trailers and Trucks Owners and Drivers Association (OGSVTTODA), Biodun Ajayi, who spoke on behalf of members, appreciated the state government for the value placed on safety on their roads, advising that such a sensitisation programme should be extended to other transport associations and road users in general.