Blood on Nigerian Highways

On October 31, 2007 / By Imnakoya / In Environment, Nigeria

For Nigerians in Diaspora in particular, it’s the kind of story and event that will send chills down the spines of many: The dozens of commuters that got burnt to death in a road traffic accident involving a fuel tanker along the Lagos-Sagamu expressway. The official count was 30, but I’m convinced more died. This is an account of the accident, according to Vanguard Newspaper:

Trouble was said to have started when the tanker loaded with petrol was said to have climbed a culvert near the Sagamu intersection and in the process fell and spilled the petrol on the road.

One of the buses, an 18 seater was said to have rammed into it, igniting fire in the process while all those on board the bus were immediately burnt to death.

Some other vehicles including cars were said to have been unable to stop thus ramming into the burning vehicles while some who were able to stop still had their vehicles and themselves consumed in the fire as the fire kept spreading.

Some were said to have abandoned their vehicles on the road to flee into the bush only for the quick spreading flame to catch up with them.

Yes this was an accident, but it’s the kind of accident that has become way too common and over familiar to the senses, it has become one-too-many, particularly along the Lagos expressway. How long will people keep getting their lives snuffed out and suffer the most agonizing deaths because our national infrastructural system is in shreds and our social values and sensitivities long flushed down the toilet? That these types of incidents happen over and over and over to the point of desensitization is an indication that there is a serious derailment in our national psyche and collective sense of responsibility.

Will there be an investigation into the accident? Most probably YES!

Will there be any concrete and measurable steps taken to prevent a re-occurrence? Most definitely NO!

Now, if a non-Nigeria or non-African observer looks at these incidents and our attitudes, and simple tags it “Animalistic”, “Sub-human”, and even “Retarded”; several self-righteous commentators will arise instanta to hurl expletives on that person. But really isn’t what these sets of behavior and attitude suggest?

The root causes of the decay in our infrastructure have been discussed off-line, online, in public and private settings, and the compilation in words will stretch from Lagos to the moon! Even a glacier-locked Eskimo knows what our problems are in Nigeria! But what about solving them? How can this carnage be prevented on Nigerian roads?

The standard practice is to tie the success of solving social and public health problems - such as road traffic accident fatalities - to the implementation billion-dollar projects, so it have become standardized (for the feds) to wave the “lack of funds” card as an excuse. While there is need to overhaul the entire stretched of the most-traveled highway in Nigeria, there are several low-cost interventions - that if properly implemented - will save lives and properties on Nigerian roads.

How about limiting the movement of vehicles over a certain tonnage to specific times - such as late evenings and early morning hours? Limiting fuel tankers and similar vehicles to 8:00PM - 6:00AM, for instance, isolate them and limit the threat they to pose to other road-commuters significantly. This cost not millions in implementation, and all it takes is being able to deal with some special interest group that won’t like the idea.

Those that have seen the typical Nigerian 14-18 wheelers articulated trucks (trailers in Nigerian parlance) will appreciate how dangerous they are… just looking at them: battered, bent, and broken. Many have no working rear lights or side indicators, and have headlights that hardly sees beyond a few feet. These contraptions are owned and operated as business ventures, so why can’t the owners be made legally liable for destructions and deaths they cause on our roads? Many of the accidents involving these vehicles are due to either over speeding, broken parts or malfunctioning of poorly maintained parts, or reckless driving. I don’t see why this measure can’t be applied to all vehicles used for commercial transportation.

There are other several low-cost measures that can be listed, and if those are coupled with a more stringent licensing protocol for drivers, fatalities on Nigerian roads will be significantly reduced. Well, on paper that’s…if one controls for corruption!

Image Credit: Emma Osodi, The News. There are more graphic images.

14 Responses to “Blood on Nigerian Highways”

The Highway Rescue Project of India (http://timbuktuchronicles.blogspot.com/2006/04/highway-rescue-project.html) could be an alternative template for dealing with these types of emergencies…

By emeka okafor
October 31, 2007 at 5:33 pm
A change of attitude by numerous bodies concerned in Nigeria is definitely needed. First, it is not right that Nigerian roads are left to deteriorate and become death traps all the time. This dates back to over 40 years ago to the best of my recollection, considering my age. It is becoming much worse for sure but nothing new. Complacency on the part of the government and people concerned is the evil. Secondly drivers of tankers, trailers, timber lorries, commercial vehicles and private cars are mostly careless on the roads and tempt fate with their dangerous driving, which uncannily seems to give these drivers a buzz! Thirdly, there is no rule of law restricting harzardous vehicles, the extent of their contents and MOT is never required for vehicles in Nigeria in spite of our romance with other Westeren ideas! Most vehicles are scraps, not serviced or repaired and unfit for the roads. If you live in Nigeria you will agree that even the pollution caused by these vehicles are as dangerous as the accidents they cause.

These and many other reasons are why some of us beleive Lagos Mega City Project is not the priority in Lagos and Nigeria for now. Who cares about deserts when the main meal is not forthcoming? But then we profess to have leaders and government in Nigeria. Do we?

By omotaylor
November 1, 2007 at 11:50 am
blood on nigeria highways are linked to or associted with cops who donot do their jobs,governors who spend considerable time accumulating peoples money instead of building and inspecting roads and local government officials who prefer various local titles and taking in any federal allocations than building roads,hospitals,schools.nothing will change until these leaders change or the people demand the change(i mean in a peaceful democratic way)

By dr b.uzoani
November 1, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Highway Rescue Project of India model can be replicated in Nigeria, and I thought someone has started a “rescue service” in Lagos already. What is needed is more of “prevention-focus” intervention. The accidents of this kind can be prevented, say be a 10-25%, this will translate to significant reduction in deaths and property loss.

By TonyD
November 1, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Knee-jerk ideology will not solve decades of inaction and as Imnakoya rightly pointed out that debate has been on-going with think-tanks, governments and NGOs trying to find solutions unsuccessfully.

Should we care about what “non-Nigeria or non-African observer” think about our desperate situation? Crumbling infrastructure with little/zero health and safety concerns are signs of corruption which poses a serious development challenge to Africa (UN-speak).

Forget management theory, what about common sense? Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People (1966) is how our country is run, the people in power use their positions to increase their personal wealth. Babangida, OBJ, Kalu, Etteh etc.

Nigeria and Africa does not function and will not function until we find a little bit of ethics, morality and deep concern about order and relationships in a more productive and constructive way of life in our selfish leaders.

By Beauty
November 2, 2007 at 3:25 am
A similar accident happened about two months ago by the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, and over 10 people were killed, including a mother and her baby. The cause of the accident was a petrol tanker and an illiterate “Okada” motorbike rider who started his motorbike when others warned him not to do so.

Most of you outside Nigeria do not know how deep Nigeria has fallen into the horrible pit of decadence and inhumanity.

If you come to Nigeria and sit down in the midst of the majority of Nigerians who are non-literates and semi-literates, you would break down in fits and tears.
Most of the truck drivers are illiterates or semi-literates and how did they get their licence to drive?

Most of the police officers are half-educated and only joined the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) when they failed to get the right jobs elsewhere and when they failed to get the qualification for matriculation and job interviews.
When any Nigerian secondary school leaver or drop-out cannot get any of the preferred jobs, they finally join the Nigerian police as a last resort or they would turn to crime to survive.

If you go on tour of the so called Police Academy of the NPF, you would not be surprised that they collect bribes and kill innocent citizens at the slightest provocation.
They have very low esteem, inferiority complex and suffer from depression.
They are not well educated or trained for crime prevention and control and those posted as Traffic officers are as unqualified as their colleagues assigned to other duties.
The Nigerian road safety officers are as bad as the Nigerian Police officers.
Most of them are devils in uniform and the evils they do have confirmed my general analysis of the Nigerian crisis.

The education sector has collapsed as the ex-governors embezzled the revenue allocations to purchase private jets, set up Arik Airlines, acquire foreign properties, invest in new generation banks, and on other perishable acquisitions and they send their own children to some of the best foreign schools after they have neglected and destroyed the Nigerian schools. The campuses stink, the laboratories have been left for the spiders, lizards and insects, and the classrooms are overcrowded with both qualified and unqualified students of which the majority paid between N50,000 and N100,000, to bribe the academic staff to gain admission into the Nigerian universities and colleges. A popular Nigerian female blogger asked me for N60,000 to bribe the academic staff of the University of Jos for her admission and since I refused to give her the money, I have become the enemy of her progress.

Our so called elders and religious leaders and their congregations celebrate fallacies and hypocrisies since they betray the very tenets of their sacred beliefs and traditional norms.

Nigerian mothers have turned to pimps of some sorts as they coach their daughters on how to hawk themselves in dating bargains for the highest bidders.
If the disgraced first Nigerian Madam Speaker, Patricia Etteh and the Nigerian housemate Ofuneka who was sexually assaulted in the Big Brother Africa 2, are the indicators of the true image of Nigerian women, then we need to weep for the downfall of the Nigerian Woman.
As Madam Speaker Patricia refused to remove her garment of corruption and only resigned and not impeached, the Nigerian housemate has sold her the dignity and integrity of her womanhood in her desperation to win $100,000, when she could have earned more as a secret porn actress in America or Europe.

Dr. Dora Nkem Akunyili of NAFDAC, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala of the World Bank and few other Nigerian women of dignity, integrity and probity are like diamonds in the cesspit of the corruption of Nigerian women indoors aand outdoors.

If I continue, the list of the foes and woes destroying our beloved country Nigeria, will not end.
“Cry, My Beloved Nigeria” would be an apt title for the present horrible and terrible state of human affairs in Nigeria.

We should continue to speak out and condemn all the evils and the evil doers until we get rid of them.

God save Nigeria.

By Orikinla Osinachi
November 4, 2007 at 9:21 am
[...] Grandiose Parlor on a fuel tanker accident in Lagos: “How long will people keep getting their lives snuffed out and suffer the most agonizing deaths because our national infrastructural system is in shreds and our social values and sensitivities long flushed down the toilet?” Share This [...]

By Global Voices Online » Nigeria: Deadly Fuel Tanker Accident Raises Questions
November 5, 2007 at 5:14 am
[...] Ny blaogy Grandiose Parlor dia mitsikera ny toe-draharaha mahatonga ny lozam-pifamoivoizana izay nandraisan’ny fiarabe mpitatitra solika anjara tany Lagos : Â« How long will people keep getting their lives snuffed out and suffer the most agonizing deaths because our national infrastructural system is in shreds and our social values and sensitivities long flushed down the toilet ? Â» [...]

By Global Voices amin’ ny teny malagasy » Blog Archive » Nizeria : Mipetraka ireo fanontaniana taorian’ny lozam-pifamoivoizana izay nandraisan’ny fiarabe mpitatitra solika anjara
November 5, 2007 at 8:25 am
Dear Orikinla, I read your comments with interest and sadness for it is all too clear that too many things have gone awry with our dear motherland Nigeria. Wish we can all come together and be proactive in taking steps to force (peacefully)the hand of the government and powers that be in Nigeria. How come the politicians do not consider the simple right things to correct the ills in Nigeria. For example compulsory education for all maybe to age 18 to improve literacy and serve as a corrective measure for the illeterate mentality you have described. The police could do with the assistance of international police to help train the existing force, (I was a Special Constable in the London Police force and did 9months training to qualify and I tell you it was educating in many respects). We have spoken for too long but our voices are not getting to the right people. I vow to keep on harping and even work out a plan to get our feelings across to the right quarters in Nigeria. All these we are ready to do for we love our country. I wish people could see this as a good thing.

On a last note, Madam Etteh and Ofuneka do not represent the majority of African/Nigerian women I am glad to say. They have not been supported by a majority but only a minority of women (in their despicable actions). The struggle continues.

By omotaylor
November 5, 2007 at 6:45 pm
hmmm…. It is just sad.

Ofunneka was assaulted because the African observers allowed that to happen. If that game show had taken place in the UK. Richard would have been kicked out and the show would have been closed up. That is a fact. Ofunneka joined the show for her reasons but we cannot tie her reasons to what Madam Etteh did. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh did what she did because she was greedy and she felt she could get away with it.

About our roads - I can remember our car swimming on top of the waters in Nigeria. When I describe those experiences to people here, they laugh thinking I am playing. But the roads and other infrastructures will not improve until we stop appointing greedy, lazy people in power.

About the police officers on the road: they are doing their petty crimes because of poverty. When
Baboon dey chop, why termite wey dey for ground no dey chop as well.

Pammy

By pammy
November 14, 2007 at 9:18 am
[...] The root causes of the decay in our infrastructure have been discussed off-line, online, in public and private settings, and the compilation in words will stretch from Lagos to the moon! Even a glacier-locked Eskimo knows what our problems are in Nigeria! But what about solving them? This statement made on this blog ( see “Blood on Nigerian Highways“) while addressing the high prevalence of road traffic accidents in Nigeria, is a very related essay to Adeola Aderounmu’s assessment of Nigerian road. Adeola blogs at “Thy Glory O Nigeria” and laments the state of Nigeria roads, wondering “how can one useless governor claimed that he spent over 300 million naira to repair these roads. We all know that is a lie”. Yes we all know the lies on which the Nigerian nation lies, and the results of those lies are up for all to see! [...]

By Grandiose Parlor » Blog Archive » Making the Transition from “Keyboard Activism” to Real-time Activism
November 16, 2007 at 10:26 pm
If the 300 million naira claim of the above referred to Governor to repair the roads sounds false, what about the claim that Obasanjo spent 46 billion naira to repair the same Nigerian roads?

By omotaylor
November 18, 2007 at 3:15 am
[...] Related article: Blood on Nigerian Highway Bookmarks:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

By Grandiose Parlor » Blog Archive » 400 Nigerians Die from Road Accident Daily?
November 20, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Too many comments with little action, Nigeria people should emulate the THAI RED SHIRTS, Iran, Iraq and of course the Afghans. Until there is public resistance to the evil of governance/leadership in Nigeria, nothing will change for good. Let Nigerians come out and challenge the inceasant killing of our youths, fathers, mothers, babies and relations through avoidable and preventable road traffic accidents.

Prince Fidelis Nnadi
APRI Abuja Nigeria

By PRINCE FIDELIS NNADI
May 23, 2010 at 4:11 pm

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