Ruination at the locale of the multiple auto accident in Lagos

By Ben Agande & Innocent Anaba
ABUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has ordered an investigation into the multiple accidents which led to the death of many commuters in Lagos, Sunday.

He also promised that steps would be taken to ensure that the incident did not reoccur.

In an entry on his Facebook posting, President Jonathan expressed condolences to relatives of those who lost their lives and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died said the incidence deserved action and not words.

This came just as the outgoing president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Olarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, urged the Federal Government to check excesses of the police at checkpoints.

He stated: “My heart goes out to the victims. I do pray for them that their souls rest in peace. I do not want to say much because this is a sad incidence that requires action rather than words, but suffice to say that I have ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to this avoidable disaster with a view to taking action to ensure that as much as is humanly possible this type of scenario does not reoccur.”

The posting which attracted more than 900 reactions drew commendations from some while others condemned the frequent ‘condolences’ from the Presidency without any concrete steps being taken to remedy the situation.

Haruna Ibrahim in his reaction said: This is a good move so far, but there are many of such which are caused by the nature of the bad road. Please sir try and look into our roads and put them into consideration.”

Nnamdi in his posting said: “The question is ‘how much more condolence will you send?’ These men (police officers) are given financial targets by their superiors and they don’t have an option than to obey and carry out.

“Could you imagine that the DPO of Dolphin police station gave his men a target to arrest 100 okadas (motor bikes) for this month of August. I heard this because my despatch rider was arrested for no just cause. To put an end to all these excesses from the police force, I suggest that state commissioners of police, with their DPOs, be either removed or demoted should any atrocities be committed in their jurisdiction.

Akeredolu tasks FG on police excesses

Meanwhile, out-going president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Olarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has urged the Federal Government to urgently take steps to check police excesses at checkpoints.

Akeredolu who was speaking against the background of deaths recorded on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident on Sunday, said a quick intervention would ensure that their illegalities did not continue to consume the lives of Nigerians.

Speaking in Lagos, while briefing newsmen on activities for the forthcoming Annual General Conference of the association billed for Kaduna State next week, Akeredolu said: “There must be training for members of the Police Force and it is very fundamental. It appears that the police at the check points cannot respond to urgent issues, as they are more interested in what they get from people plying the roads.

“The Inspector General of Police had said we no longer have checkpoints, that what we have are stop and search. If we have stop and search, it should not lead to the pile up of vehicles on the roads. I have had to complain to the police at one of the check points after spending about 30 minutes on the queue and a policeman shouted at me that I want to teach them their job.

“The situation where police use their vehicles or other objects to block major roads, leaving just a small space for vehicles to pass through is never seen in any other part of the country, which is why the Federal Government must do something urgent to avoid needless deaths on our roads on account of these police checkpoints.

“The so called checkpoints is even more of a business to the policemen on the roads and nothing more. I heard they no longer collect N20, but N50 and N100. If they want to check vehicles, they should clear the vehicle off the road and not block the roads with the vehicles they are checking.

“In other societies, police drive in their patrol vans and stop suspicious vehicles and not stop all vehicle passing the road. Government must do something to check the situation.”