Mohammed Bello Koko, MD, NPA

Management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has disclosed that  investigation to ascertain the source of container linked to last Sunday accident on Ojuelegba bridge in Lagos that claimed nine lives.

 NPA in a statement commiserated with the families of the nine persons who were crushed to death on Sunday, January 29, 2023, when a container fell on a commuter bus at Ojuelegba, Surulere, lagos.

While praying that the Almighty God grant families of the deceased the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss, the agency said, “This very sad incidence further justifies the need for the full enforcement of the Minimum Safety Standards (MSS) for trucks, which the Nigerian Ports Authority had introduced but met stiff resistance from some truck owners”.

 “The Authority is poised more than ever before, in partnership with the Lagos State government and the Federal Road Service Corps, to fully enforce these Minimum Safety Standards for trucks and impose stiff penalties on truck drivers and owners to forestall a re-occurrence and serve as deterrent non compliant truck owners and drivers”

 “Investigation to track the container loading port/terminal to establish a failure to adhere to best practices in articulated vehicle management. The Authority assures the general public that whoever is responsible for this breach of procedure will be severely dealt with.

“In order to protect against the loss of lives and properties due to these avoidable accidents, the Authority will fully enforce the minimum safety standards for trucks in all the ports, particularly in Lagos, where these needless accidents are becoming commonplace” NPA said

“This very sad incidence further justifies the need for the full enforcement of the Minimum Safety Standards (MSS) for trucks and NPA will ensure enforcement and compliance”