Barely 48 hours after a devastating accident along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway claimed the lives of 16 people, another tragic crash occurred late Wednesday night on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, claiming the lives of at least three individuals and leaving 14 others with injuries.
The accident, which took place at the Ogere axis of the busy expressway, involved six vehicles and 23 occupants. According to the Commandant General of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Seni Ogunyemi, the incident occurred at about 8:35 pm when a white Benz truck, which was making a turn, fell on its side. The truck spilled its contents, which were empty plastic containers, onto the road.
Due to the high speed of other vehicles on the road, five vehicles, unaware of the accident ahead, crashed into the fallen truck. The impact of the multi-vehicle collision led to the tragic loss of life and injuries.
Ogunyemi explained that the victims were rushed to various medical facilities, including the PATMAG Hospital in Ogere, for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the FOS morgue in Isara Remo.
Ogun State, which borders Lagos, is one of the busiest states in Nigeria due to its role as a major transit point between the southwestern cities of Lagos and other parts of the country. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, one of the busiest roads in Nigeria, is frequently used by motorists and commercial vehicles alike.
Unfortunately, the high volume of traffic combined with poor road conditions in certain areas has made the road prone to accidents. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, in particular, has witnessed numerous accidents over the years, many of which are fatal. The presence of large vehicles such as trucks and tankers on the road, coupled with speeding, often leads to catastrophic accidents like the one that occurred on Wednesday.
In response to these recurring incidents, traffic agencies like TRACE and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have been working to improve road safety through awareness campaigns and strict enforcement of traffic rules. Despite these efforts, however, accidents continue to occur due to factors like human error, speeding, and the lack of proper safety measures on some parts of the road.
According to TRACE’s Commandant General, the crash occurred when the white Benz truck, which had been travelling on the outbound route from Mile 12, lost control while making a turn at the Ogere section of the expressway. The truck toppled, spilling its contents – empty plastic containers – across the road. The sudden obstruction left other drivers with little time to react, and due to the high speeds at which they were driving, they collided with the fallen truck.
Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicles involved in the crash included a variety of transport types. These included a white Mazda bus, a DAF tanker, a Toyota Venza, a white Nissan bus, and another DAF truck. The varying types of vehicles, ranging from buses to trucks, contributed to the scale of the accident.
The traffic crash claimed three lives – all male adults – and left 14 people injured. The victims comprised 11 men and three women. The injured victims were immediately transported to PATMAG Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to FOS Morgue in Isara Remo for further procedures.
The tragic event has raised further concerns about the state of road safety in Ogun State and the wider southwestern region of Nigeria. Residents and commuters alike have expressed deep sadness over the loss of life in such a preventable accident. Many have called for stronger measures to curb reckless driving and ensure that safety regulations are enforced more rigorously.
