Lessons From Lagos Fuel Truck Accident

TOPE AJAYI

Accidents do not just happen. They are caused. Usually by human error- errors of omission and commission. 

The unfortunate fuel tanker accident in Lagos this week that claimed 9 lives and over 70 vehicles was caused due to break failure according to media reports. Of course, the driver knew the truck break was not good yet he chose to put it on the road laden with 33,000 litres of PMS. That was death on the prowl.

Few people I know have testified to how God saved them from the inferno. While we thank God for those who survived, we must grief with those who lost properties and more with those who died. Overall, we must take the lessons.

1. The response team of Lagos State government which include LASTMA, VIO, RRS,  Fire Service, Lagos Emergency Response Agency were very effective and responded on time and as reported. They deployed and got to scene of accident within 10minutes. That was fast given our environment. The government must continue to invest in these agencies for more efficiency. Other states should also learn from Lagos. Disasters will always happen but damages can be reduced when responses come on time. Kudos to Lagos Team.

2. Truck owners and drivers should be held liable when accidents happen due to negligence and same goes to all motorists.

3. Licensing and safety agencies must stop collecting bribes to give approvals and licenses to vehicles and drivers that are not road worthy.

4. NUPENG and PENGASAN, the two powerful oil and gas unions whose members include the tanker drivers should be more socially responsible when public safety is concerned. The two unions have consistently blackmailed the Federal Govt and State governments over regulatory and safety issues with threats of strike. Apapa and parking on bridges up to Ojuelegba are public safety issues that have defied logic.

5. Government at all level must be heavy-handed with regulations to ensure strict compliance. Humans by nature are deviants but strict enforcement makes everyone fall in line. That is the difference between us and the famous  ‘saner’ climes.

6. Taking personal responsibility. Government at all levels have a duty to protect lives and properties. However, the right to life is first an individual’s responsibility. No government can protect life all the time. What this means is that as citizens we must support enforcement of laws and regulations all the time without ethnicising and religionising it when the culprits share same religion and ethnicity with us. Enlightened self interest is how we are all safe not the political and commercial interest of individuals.

In all, kudos to Lagos State government for managing the disaster well. Governor Ambode also provided leadership as the state Mourner-in-Chief by visiting the accident scene for spot assessment and condoling the victims.  Many have talked about the state law passed by the Fashola administration that restricted truck movements to nights. On enquiry no such law exists. It was a pronouncement then. The state should now turn it into a law that must be enforced.

It is also commendable that the state had set up inter-agency investigation team to look into the accident for immediate and remote cause to avert future accident of such magnitude.