A tragic road accident has claimed the lives of two persons along a busy Lagos highway yesterday evening, adding to the growing concerns over road safety in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The fatal crash, which occurred around 7:30 pm at the Berger area of Lagos, involved a commercial bus and a private vehicle that collided at high speed, according to eyewitnesses at the scene.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) arrived promptly but were unable to save the lives of two occupants who sustained critical injuries. Several other passengers were rushed to nearby hospitals with varying degrees of injuries, medical sources confirmed.
“We heard a loud bang and rushed out to see what happened. The commercial bus had somersaulted after colliding with the car. People were screaming everywhere,” said Adebayo Ogunleye, a trader who witnessed the accident.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Sector Commander, who arrived at the scene with his team, attributed the crash to overspeeding and reckless driving. “Preliminary investigations suggest one of the drivers was attempting to overtake at an unsafe location. We continue to warn motorists about the dangers of reckless driving, especially during evening hours when visibility is reduced,” he stated.
Traffic was severely affected for several hours as emergency workers cleared the wreckage from the road. Many commuters were stranded, with some having to trek long distances to their destinations.
The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that an investigation into the exact cause of the accident has commenced. “We are investigating all circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident to determine if there were other contributing factors beyond what has been initially observed,” the Police Public Relations Officer said.
The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of their families, authorities confirmed.
This incident brings to focus the recurring issue of road accidents in Lagos, where an estimated 416 crashes were recorded in the last quarter alone, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
Road safety advocates have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved driver education. “Every life lost on our roads is one too many. We need stronger enforcement and better road user education to prevent these avoidable tragedies,” said Mrs. Folake Adeniyi of the Road Safety Advocacy Network.
The Lagos State Government recently announced plans to install more traffic cameras and deploy additional traffic management personnel to accident-prone areas across the state as part of measures to reduce road crashes.
As families mourn their loved ones, this latest accident serves as a grim reminder of the need for caution on Lagos roads, especially during peak hours when traffic congestion often leads to impatience among drivers.
