Alarming Rate Of Crashes: TRACE Operatives On High Alert On Ogun Roads

 

OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos 

Dr. Seni Ogunyemi, TRACE Commander General and Chief Executive, has condemned the alarming rate of crashes that occurred in the opening week of April in the State, saying it is unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue with the adherence to discipline and strict compliance to traffic rules and regulations, on the part of vehicle drivers. 

The TRACE Boss was responding to death of over 33 lives claimed by various accidents in some parts of the state with 24 casualties at Mosimi outward Ikorodu, 7 at Ibafo and 2 on Lagos Abeokuta, last Saturday.

To shore up compliance to regulations, the TRACE Commander said Operatives of the Agency have been drafted to the nooks and crannies of the roads to ensure strict compliance to traffic rules and booking of defaulters. 

Dr Ogunyemi disclosed this, while speaking with select Journalists in his Office in Abeokuta, on Wednesday, in reaction to multiple accidents which occurred on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at different locations on Ogun major roads. 

 Reports has it that no fewer than 25 people, including an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who was on rescue operation, were killed,  in the accident, while eight others sustained various degrees of injuries.

“The first multiple crash involving a Mack truck marked SEY 363 YY, a tanker with registration number T2900LA and a bus marked LSD 180 YA at about 7am on Saturday around NIPCO filling station axis of Lagos-Ibadan expressway claimed seven lives while four people were injured. The accident was caused by excessive speed on the part of the Mack truck’s driver which led to loss of control after which it rammed into the other two vehicles.

“The second crash involving seven vehicles occurred at about 4pm around Mosimi along Sagamu-Ikorodu Road. This also happened when vehicles one and two crashed and as the rescue team were carrying out the rescue operation another vehicle ran into them as a result of brake failure and killed an FRSC staff.

“These ugly incidents is avoidable if drivers considered the importance of obeying traffic rules. To curb this trend, I have mandated all TRACE operatives to intensify more on enforcement on over speed limit violation and mechanical unbalanced vehicles on the road. "Any driver caught driving truck without functioning lighting system, brake and on excessive speed or recklessly would be apprehended, forced to fix the faults and engaging in impunity measures not only fine,” the TRACE Boss emphasied. 

He said the TRACE Agency has resolved that to avoid repetition of unpleasant rate of accidents of last week, everyone in TRACE, including himself must be on their toes. 

"We are all out on the roads to check these human causes of road accidents, such as over speeding, wrongful overtaking, taking of alcohol while on wheels, breaking systems of vehicles, and their lighting system. From experience these are some of the causes of accidents that happened last week. 

"We will ensure apprehension of all vehicles that have faulty breaks and lightining systems and ensure these are properly fixed before they are released", he said. 

The TRACE Boss also warned drivers to shun the temptation of over-speed, especially now that the roads in the state are better, saying a good and competent driver is the one who reaches home safely.

According to Dr Ogunyemi, TRACE Agency will not hesitate to drag erring drivers to court, or subject them to community services as necessary disciplinarian measure, instead of making them to pay fine they are used to because all is not money. 

The TRACE Boss enjoined companies to embrace the culture of training and re-training of their drivers and ensure their qualification to drive on the roads alongside other road users are not in doubt. 

"I too, am in training, presently. I advise corporate organizations to train and re-train all their drivers, always check their competence to drive, do regular checks-up and services of their vehicles", Ogunyemi reiterated.