The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has cleared two separate truck incidents that disrupted traffic on Ikorodu Road and at National-Ashade, restoring normal movement in the affected areas.
The incidents occurred on Sunday and involved a loaded mixer truck that fell across the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor on Ikorodu Road and another truck carrying two 20-foot containers that tilted while making a U-turn at National-Ashade.
LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency’s Cobra Response Team stationed at Onipanu responded to the Ikorodu Road incident at about 5:53 p.m. following a distress alert.
He said responders found a mixer truck belonging to Ecocrete Construction Company lying across the BRT corridor at Palm Grove, inward Obanikoro.
Preliminary assessment indicated that reckless driving and overspeeding might have contributed to the crash, while the driver reportedly fled the scene.
LASEMA, working with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Nigeria Police Force, secured the scene, managed traffic and began recovery operations to remove the truck.
In the second incident, which occurred at about 11:21 p.m. at National-Ashade, LASEMA’s Eagle Response Team from Cappa found a MACK truck carrying two 20-foot containers.
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the truck reportedly suffered a tyre burst while making a U-turn, causing it to tilt and obstruct about 80 per cent of the roadway.
Responders secured the area and diverted traffic to prevent a secondary accident while awaiting heavy-duty recovery equipment.
With the assistance of a private crane, two forklifts, LASEMA’s lowbed and a private tow truck, the containers were recovered and loaded onto the agency’s lowbed. The MACK truck was subsequently towed to the LASTMA yard in Oshodi.
The affected road was later cleared and reopened to traffic.
Oke-Osanyintolu said no death or injury was recorded in either incident.
He commended the emergency response teams and collaborating agencies for their swift intervention, saying their efforts helped prevent prolonged gridlock and possible secondary accidents.
He urged operators of articulated and heavy-duty vehicles to properly maintain their vehicles, obey speed limits and traffic regulations, and exercise caution on Lagos roads.
He also advised residents to promptly report emergencies through the 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines.