Senator Sharafadeen Alli has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in the multiple accident that occurred at the Agbowo axis of the Ojoo-Iwo road section of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Akeem Abas, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan.
Senator Alli extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured.
The accident, which claimed 16 lives and left 17 others with varying degrees of injury, has been attributed to a brake failure.
The spokesman for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Oyo, CRC Mayowa Odewo, attributed the accident to a faulty brake system.
He said: “The accident occurred after a trailer carrying iron materials lost control and ran into multiple vehicles including a bus coming from the North with 18 passengers who are majorly children, the trailer also ran into a Micra, and Honda CR-V car 2002/2003 model.
“About 16 people died instantly, 17 people were injured, while two people in the Honda CR-V survived the accident and we were taken to a close by the hospital. Some of the injured people were Hausa’s and they refused to be hospitalised.”
The lawmaker described the incident as a devastating blow to the community, calling for urgent measures to prevent future occurrences.
He called on all road users to prioritise safety and adhere to traffic regulations to avert such tragedies.
Proper road maintenance and regular checks on vehicles to prevent mechanical failures, which have been a significant cause of accidents on Nigerian roads is very important.
I call on the relevant authorities to intensify their efforts in road safety awareness campaigns,” he said.
Also, Senator Alli urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to address the ongoing construction issues along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
He called on the Ministry of Works to charge the contractors responsible for the project to expedite the construction process and ensure safety measures are in place to protect road users.
The lawmaker reiterated his commitment to advocating for the safety and well-being of constituents as well as all Nigerians.
He assured the public that he would continue to push for necessary interventions to improve road safety and prevent the loss of lives on the nation’s highways.
