Otedola Bridge debacle

By Jide Owatunmise

SIR: The accident routinely recorded around Otedola bridge area is a pointer to the fact that the measures taken after the previous disheartening accidents in that region were not good enough.

Reports revealed that many lives have been lost on Otedola Bridge and the environs through avoidable incidents.

There is an urgent need for representatives of the Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC), Federal Ministry of Transport, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation,  Driving School Association of Nigeria( DSAN), Centre for  Logistics and Transportation(CILT), Julius Berger and the transport unions to assemble at Otedola Bridge area to critically assess the road, the slope, the road furniture, the adjoining roads and other factors to ascertain their compliance to the requisite safety standards.

In addition, the team should take a look at the accidents that have occurred in that area, causes, effects and follow up actions.

The results of these on the spot assessments and analyses will greatly help to provide quality advice to the management of Julius Berger and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on the improvements to be made in the design, construction and provision of appropriate road furniture to effectively prevent accidents in that axis.

A new decade has started. Nigerian governments and the relevant agencies must be more proactive in the handling of road safety issues.

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The Professional Driving and Safety Academy recently launched a programme tagged, “INDEPENDENCE FOR NIGERIA ROADS”. It is time for Nigeria roads to be free from road traffic crashes, injuries and death.

Nigeria roads must be safe for motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, vulnerable people, animals and other road users.

The Nigeria Driver License system must be refined and freed from corruption and dangerous shortcuts. The Driving school Standardisation programme must be made more effective.

The road infrastructure must me significantly improved upon. Continuous education of experienced drivers in accredited driving schools must be emphasised. Traffic law enforcements must be improved upon with more technology employed.

There should be no more loss on Nigeria roads. Nigerian government must key into the Vision Zero. With the selfless cooperation of all the stakeholders in transportation and road safety administration, the vision is achievable in Nigeria.

• Jide Owatunmise, Ikorodu, Lagos State.