It was a sad day for the people of Kuto in Abeokuta area of Ogun state as a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit lost control due to brake failure thereby resulting in the death of three people while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
This incident has prompted the Governor of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun to barred drivers of tankers and other articulated vehicles from using overhead bridges in the State.
He also announced that the government will put in place strict penalties for any of such vehicles caught violating this directive.
The incident which caused chaos amongst residents and motorists within the vicinity occurred early morning on Tuesday, also resulting in the burning of seven vehicles including the tanker and some motorcycles.
The Governor who gave this order during an on-the-spot assessment of the fire incident noted that his administration would also emphatically ensure that tankers and other articulated vehicles are roadworthy, adding that the State Transport Team would embark on an exercise to ensure that all articulated vehicles have adequate safety equipment, as well as ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained.
According to the Governor, “we will put in place very strict penalties for any tanker driver caught on any of these bridges. This is one of the measures that the Ministry of Transportation will be rolling out in the next few days.”
He described the accident as an unfortunate event, saying that three of the six injured have been admitted at the State Hospital, Ijaye and Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba respectively, just as the Government has invited burn specialists from Lagos to attend to those with severe burns.
Prince Abiodun regretted that a bridge constructed to solve one problem has ended up creating another, adding that the State Government would carry out a comprehensive role in tackling the menace.
While commiserating with families of those who lost loved ones, Governor Abiodun pledged that his Administration would ensure that those who sustained injuries are taken care off and those whose properties were affected are assisted to ameliorate their losses.
The Governor also visited the injured at the State Hospital, Ijaye and the Federal Medical Centre.
