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Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide, Member, House of Representatives, representing Ibadan North West/Ibadan South West Local Government Area of Oyo State, has decried the recklessness on Nigerian highways, following the tragic loss of 16 lives in a road accident in Ibadan.
The accident, which occurred at the Iwo road – Ojoo axis of the Lagos -IbadanhExpressway, has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for urgent action to address the menace of reckless driving on Nigerian roads.
In a statement by Tolu Mustapha, Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Hon. Olajide, the lawmaker , described the accident as “unacceptable and avoidable”.
He attributed the tragedy to a combination of factors, including over-speeding, dangerous driving and poor vehicle maintenance.
According to the statement, “This carnage is a stark reminder of the urgent need for all stakeholders to join hands in ensuring that our roads are safe for all users.”
“We must take concrete steps to address the issues of speeding, dangerous driving, and poor vehicle maintenance, which are the major causes of these avoidable tragedies.”
The lawmaker while condoling with the families of the victims, in this time of grief, said “My heart goes out to the families of the victims of this avoidable tragedy” and prayed that the souls of the departed rest in peace.
Odidiomo called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to intensify efforts to ensure that drivers adhere to traffic rules and regulations and also urged the Oyo State Government to fix the deplorable roads in the state, which he said was a major contributory factor to the accident.
It will be recalled that the accident occurred when a speeding trailer lost control and collided with several other vehicles, including a passenger bus and a car.
The trailer was said to be carrying a large quantity of fuel, which spilled and caused a fire that engulfed several vehicles.
