It also condemned the incessant truck accidents happening within the state, which are often fatal.
The Lagos State Government has warned owners and drivers of articulated vehicles against recklessness while driving.
It also condemned the incessant truck accidents happening within the state, which are often fatal.
The government gave the warning in a statement issued on Wednesday, through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Abdulhafiz Toriola, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to the statement, the government has resolved not to tolerate unabated truck accidents caused by large containers falling off trucks which injure or kill residents going about their daily activities.
The transport ministry threatened to arrest and prosecute any driver or owner found to be an accomplice in any truck accident.
The government said the arrest and prosecution would be done in accordance with the State Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018.
Toriola stated that the warning became necessary following the recent truck accidents in the Ojuelegba and Ikotun areas, which claimed the lives of innocent people and left scores of others injured.
The permanent secretary said other truck accidents occurred on the Abule-Egba Road and Odoyalaro (Maryland) Bridge, which fortunately were without casualties.
He said that an investigation revealed that the accidents mainly happened due to negligence and recklessness on the part of the drivers.
“Having carried out a critical forensic investigation on the causes of these accidents, the state government has resolved to evoke the full wrath of the laws stipulated in its Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018, on the liability of owners for safety,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the permanent secretary as saying.
“The law clearly states that a person who drives a commercial vehicle whose condition does not conform to the provisions of the law commits an offence.
“The person is liable on conviction to the penalty stated in Section 18 (2) and in situations where the driver of the vehicle is not the owner, the owner will also be liable in line with Section 18 (3).
“The enforcement strategies to check the operations and activities of articulated vehicles plying the state roads are sacrosanct and will be enforced.”
“The state government, having registered its displeasure and position on the current situation, sought the cooperation of all relevant Stakeholders in the implementation of the enforcement to erase needless deaths, enhance movement without fear on our roads and the safety of lives and property,” the statement added.
Toriola offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the recent accidents and promised that those found culpable will be brought to justice.
Lagos has an ugly history of road tragedies. In 2020, research firm, SBM Intelligence, said there had been no fewer than 95 fallen tanker incidents in Lagos since mid-August 2010. It noted that the report did not capture fallen container incidents.