- Blames prevalence on poor enforcements of traffic regulations
By Demilade Adeniyi
The Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) has expressed sadness and deep worry over the tragic containerized vehicle accident at Ojuelegba, Lagos, on Sunday, which left nine people dead, while the only survivor is still battling with her life at a government hospital.
CIOTA, which noted that over 10 such accidents involving containerized vehicles had been recorded around the Ojuelegba Bridge between 2013 till date, said it is ready to collaborate with the state government and other relevant agencies across the federation to ensure these occurrences are reduced to the barest.
While commending the efforts of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) and other law enforcement agencies, in instilling sanity on the roads, the CIOTA’s National President Prince Segun Obayendo, in a statement issued yesterday, said CIOTA is ready to reinforce its partnerships with relevant road traffic agencies and explore every avenue to beam more searchlight on how to improve on safety on the roads.
The Institute said no measure must be spared to checkmate the non-challant attitude of motorists to traffic laws and regulations and especially the awful maintenance culture prevalent among motorists and vehicle owners.
The CIOTA’s Chief said; “we are aware that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) ascertains the conditions of container-laden trucks before their exit from ports, but lack of appropriate enforcement has resulted in low compliance with these conditions to the detriment of safety.”
He expressed the desire of the Institute to work with truck owners to sensitize them on attendant consequences of leaving containers unlatched, and would encourage truck owners associations to have taskforces in strategic locations across the federation to reprimand and impose fines on defaulters.