The Of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila called the killing of nine people by a container in Lagos’ Surulere’s Ojuelegba neighborhood on Sunday “deplorable and sad.”
Gbajabiamila was outraged by the news that a 20-foot container had crashed into commercial minibus, popularly known as Korope, and dismayed that innocent people had lost their lives in this way, he said.
A spokesperson commended officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), FRSC and the police for evacuating victims and rescuing one person.
Gbajabiamila called for immediate action and an investigation into the incident.
“I was sad and shocked at the news of the killing of the nine innocent people by a container. I became more brokenhearted when I saw the gory images of the incident. This is unfortunate and unacceptable.
“This is not the first time such incident is happening in Lagos. I, therefore, call for immediate temporary installation of barriers as the case on Oba Akran – computer village, Ikeja to prevent trailers from using the bridge and compelled to use the under bridge alternatively to avert future occurrences. It is unacceptable for people to die in such a way at same spot multiple times,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Speaker said such an unfortunate incident was one of the reasons why he sponsored the Federal Highway (Amendment) Bill which amongst other things provided for latching of containers and access to container trucks on overhead bridges at only restricted hours, and stiffer penalties for those that kill innocent Nigerians on the road.
Speaker Gbajabiamila sent his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the people of his constituency, Surulere, and the Lagos State Government.
He prayed to God to repose their souls and give their families the fortitude to bear the loss.