Incessant fall of containers from truck worries the people of Lagos

It has come to our attention that in Lagos State, there have been instances where unlatched containers, which are loaded with goods, have fallen off articulated trucks and crashed onto the ground.

These containers have caused fatalities, injuries, and in some cases, have crushed individuals to death.

It is a matter of great concern that such incidents have occurred.

Furthermore, it has been observed that these containers have also crashed onto other vehicles, leaving them in a state that is akin to crushed eggshells.

The occupants of these vehicles have been compressed to death right inside their vehicles, leaving sympathizers who rush to their rescue feeling helpless and unable to retrieve the remains of the victims.

It is imperative to note that various stakeholders have been speaking on why container accidents happen the way they do.

The Lagos State government and some other agencies have been pointing at factors they say are responsible for the numerous tragedies and proffering solutions to end them.

It is our belief that with the right measures in place, such incidents can be prevented from occurring in the future.

The Ojuelegba area of Lagos has garnered a reputation for the occurrence of container accidents resulting in fatalities and injuries among its residents.

This unfortunate phenomenon is a recurrent one, with containers frequently plummeting from the bridge onto unsuspecting individuals, often leading to immediate fatalities.

Despite the subsequent outpouring of grief and media coverage that ensues following such incidents, the recurrence of these accidents remains unabated over time.

In addition to the aforementioned area, other locations within Lagos such as the Mile 2 vicinity, the entirety of the Apapa-Oshodi expressway, the Mile 2-Badagry expressway, and various regions in proximity to the wharf are also identified as high-risk zones for falling containers.

A recent incident at Mile 2 by Durbar junction serves as a poignant example of the grave consequences of such accidents.

In this particular case, a container dislodged from a truck, tragically resulting in the death of a commercial motorcyclist upon impact.

Furthermore, the cyclist’s passenger, a female individual, was also affected as she was knocked down by the falling container, leading to severe injuries including a crushed and trapped leg.

The distressing scene that unfolded with both individuals lying on the ground served as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by these incidents.

Containers fall due to various factors such as poor safety standards for trucks loading containers, bad roads, drivers’ recklessness, and the use of non-road worthy trucks with incomplete hooks.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, highlighted the major causes of container accidents in the city, attributing blame to the Lagos State government, enforcement agencies, Nigerian Ports Plc, and hoodlums in Lagos.

According to him, they include “overloading and poor maintenance of containers (vehicles), reckless driving and speeding by container truck drivers, poor road infrastructure and lack of adequate drainage systems.” 

He also added “inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations.”

An articulated truck driver pointed out that safety standards had been compromised due to government negligence and extortion by enforcement agencies.

Additionally, it was revealed that the average age of trucks carrying containers in the country is 40 years, with many in poor conditions, contributing to the ongoing menace of container accidents in Lagos.

Mr Adeyinka Aroyewun, the National President of the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA), attributed incidents on the road to bad roads and poorly-maintained vehicles.

He also mentioned that people have developed negative attitudes that involve hoodlums tampering with trucks while they are in motion.

“Vehicles are parked, loading passengers at unauthorised places; this usually causes accidents.

 “We will blame the government for not enforcing traffic rules and ensuring that roads are in good condition,” he said.

He wondered, why vehicles were issued road worthy certificates, and heavy duty trucks permits and all sort of tests were claimed to have been conducted before issuing these certificates, yet there were not done.

He maintained that the government should be blamed for issuing certificates for vehicles that are not road worthy.

“They (government) don’t check anything. Let the Lagos State government come out to tell us the inspection point where heavy-duty trucks were inspected before they were issued road-worthiness certificates.

“Let them come out and say this; let them come out and say where. They have not been conducting any check, yet they have been collecting money. It has been revenue generation and that is why we are experiencing all of these,” he lamented.