Pregnant woman, four others die on Lagos-badagry highway

Tragedy struck yesterday in Agbara as a fatal accident on Lagos-Badagry Expressway involving a commercial bus popularly known as Danfo and a truck claimed the lives of five people, including a pregnant woman.

The accident, which occurred at exactly 5.25a.m between Abule-Oshun and Onireke bus stops, was attributed to the bad spots on the busy highway.

Due to the dilapidated stretch of road from the Ojo cantonment barracks to Abule Oshun, motorists usually ply the barely manageable one-way route to escape traffic and damage to their vehicles.

It was gathered that the commercial bus with Registration No. LAGOS FST652XS, was driving against traffic on high speed when it rammed into the trailer with Registration No. AAAI55XR, leading to the death of the Danfo driver and four passengers. The conductor escaped death by the whiskers, though he sustained severe injuries.

After over an hour of being abandoned by the roadside, the victims were carried away by the combined team of the Nigeria Police Force (Onireke division), Trade Fair Complex Police Division, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) officials. They were deposited at the Isolo General Hospital mortuary.

Eyewitnesses at the scene blamed the incident on the bad road and urged the Federal Government to alleviate the plights of road users by rehabilitating the international super-highway.

It would be recalled that last Thursday, the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, ordered the state Public Works Corporation to embark on immediate and extensive repair of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to ensure free traffic.

The General Manager and Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Works, Mr Ayotunde Sodeinde, told newsmen that the corporation had already mobilised its workers to site. Sodeinde said the repairs would include covering of all potholes on the road and giving the drainage systems a facelift.

He listed the areas earmarked for repairs to include Iyana Ishasi, Ribamu Bus Stop, Ketu Bus Stop – Cele Nica, FGC Ijanikan – Iyana Era and ACOED pedestrian bridge – Alafia Bus Stop.

Others include former tollgate – Ibiye/Morogbo, Pure Water Bus Stop – Magbon, Ile-Epo Bus Stop – Oko Afo Outward Badagry. Mowo Bus Stop – Elijah Araromi Bridge, Limca Bus Stop – Mosafejo (both sides), French Village – Low Cost Housing Scheme and Ibereko.