Trucks and articulated vehicles still ply the Ojuelegba and Dorman Long bridges in Lagos despite a ban placed by the Lagos State Government.
Transport Day correspondent who monitored vehicular movement along that axis yesterday being February 13, 2023, noted that nothing had changed as the trucks were seen plying the bridges.
It was also observed that the LASTMA (Lagos State Traffic Management Authority) vehicle which was stationed by the Ojuelegba bridge shortly after the trailer crash that killed 9 persons about one week ago, was no where to be found at about 4pm which is usually a high traffic time.
It would be recalled that the State Government had banned articulated truck drivers from using Dorman Long and Ojuelegba bridges, as a result of the trailer crash.
This is as the government also directed its Traffic Management Agency to arrest truck drivers that passed through the routes.
The directive was contained in a letter by the Special Adviser on Transportation to the Governor, Sola Giwa, and addressed to LASTMA General Manager.
The letter which was dated February 6, 2023, and titled, ‘Ban on use of Dorman Long and Ojuelegba bridges by articulated truck drivers’ was shared by LASTMA on the agency’s Twitter handle.
The letter read, “Sequel to the frequent road accidents along Dorman Long and Ojuelegba Bridges as a result of the activities of articulated vehicles resulting to loss of lives and property in the State and in a bid to prevent further casualties, it is imperative for the State Government to restrict the articulated vehicles from the Dorma Long and Ojuelegba Bridges their movement to the State Logistics routes (Oshodi-Apapa Expressway) and under the bridge to link Ikorodu Road then connect Agege Motor Road.
“Sadly, on Sunday, 29th, January 2023 another tragedy which involved road accident occurred on the Ojuelegba bridge involving a container-laden truck which fell of the bridge and crushed a commercial bus on the ground which claimed Nine (9) lives and several others injured. Specifically, the State Government has observed that the rising curve of the bridge is not designed to allow passage of long, spacious and heavy vehicles.
“In view of the foregoing, you are directed to apprehend articulated trucks that pass through Dorman Long and Ojuelegbe bridges in accordance with pronouncement of the State Government, in a bid to reduce the spate of avoidable accidents occasioned by heavy duty and articulated trucks accessing the bridges in order to ensure safety, and security of lives and property across the state.”
