The Federal Government is considering reintroducing weighbridges on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to check overloaded trucks and improve road safety following Monday’s tanker fire beneath Otedola Bridge in Lagos.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, disclosed this on Tuesday during a joint briefing with the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi.
Dare said a proposal would be submitted to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, within a week for possible inclusion of weighbridges in the planned upgrade of the expressway.
He said the facilities would help monitor the weight of heavy-duty vehicles and strengthen checks on their braking systems.
Dare added that the Federal Ministry of Works would conduct a comprehensive structural assessment of Otedola Bridge following the incident. He also identified reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance, illegal truck parking and the theft of road infrastructure as major safety concerns along the highway.
He said a stakeholders’ meeting involving officials from Lagos and Ogun states, security agencies and other relevant groups would be held in mid-November to address the challenges.
Osiyemi supported the proposed weighbridges, saying some vehicles using the expressway were overloaded or unsuitable for the route. He also called on truck owners and transport unions to ensure proper vehicle maintenance and safer driving practices.
The tanker fire occurred on Monday after a diesel-laden tanker plunged beneath Otedola Bridge and burst into flames. The Federal Road Safety Corps attributed the crash to speeding in its preliminary findings and ordered an investigation into the incident.
Two people sustained burn injuries and were taken to hospital, according to the FRSC.
The latest incident has renewed concerns about the safety of heavy-duty vehicles on the busy expressway, a major route connecting Lagos with other parts of the country.
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