Due to the enforcement of the curfew imposed on Lagos to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of motorists spent the night at the Kara/Berger end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday/ Tuesday.
Security agents manned both the inward and outward lanes of the road at Berger.
Police personnel from Lagos and Ogun state commands, officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Vehicle Inspection Officers and men of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps were seen at the checkpoint.
The security personnel prevented vehicles, including those conveying foodstuffs and tankers coming into Lagos to load fuel as well as those on essential duty from coming into the state, while those exiting Lagos had a similar experience.
A motorist, Adedimeji Okanlawon, said the policemen at the checkpoint inward Lagos denied him passage despite informing them that he was an essential worker, adding that he had to pass the night in his vehicle.
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In the Sango area of Ogun State, motorists plying the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway also faced a similar situation as security agents at the toll gate area prevented them from gaining entry into the state.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said, “On Monday, we had issues all over; the roads were shut because of the curfew; and when we shut down non-essential movement, essential workers were trapped in the gridlock. But eventually, we paved a way for them to pass.
“Today (Tuesday), we went around with the Commissioner of Police to assess the situation and the checkpoint at Berger was shifted to a wider area to accommodate more vehicular movement.
“Both the Lagos and Ogun CPs, the Deputy Commissioners for Operations in the states, the DC Operations from the Zone 2 and Area Commanders in both states were present when the decision was made to ease the situation.”
A tragedy was, however, averted when two tankers laden with diesel and kerosene collided on the Otedola Bridge in Lagos on Tuesday.
The tanker drivers were driving on top speed when the collision occurred around 8 AM, and the impact made the diesel-laden tanker to spill its content on the road.
The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyitolu, said there was no loss of life, adding that emergency responders covered the area to forestall a secondary accident.
Oke-Osanyitolu said, “Upon the arrival of the agency’s response team at the scene of the incident, it was observed that there was an accident involving a Mack tanker conveying 50,000 litres of kerosene with number plate AGB 447 XA, and another Mack tanker laden with 45,000 litres of diesel with number plate KRD 467 XZ.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the two tankers had a collision while on top speed as a result of reckless driving. The subsequent impact led the diesel-laden tanker to subsequently spill its content on the road.
“No casualty was recorded. However, the LASEMA team and the Lagos State Fire Service officials are on the ground blanketing the affected areas to forestall the occurrence of any secondary accident. Recovery operation is ongoing.”
