Nigeria has witnessed a significant increase in truck accidents over the past few years, which has

led to loss of human lives, properties and economic resources.

Findings revealed that in 2022, the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA)
recorded more than 100 articulated truck accidents between January and July. We also recall that
the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) last year said that in 2018, Nigeria lost over N39
billion to tanker and trailer-related road crashes.

Statistics revealed that a total of 650 tankers and trailers were involved in crashes in 2018, with
over 90 percent of the affected vehicles having been used for haulage transportation for over 30
years.

Investigations by Shipping Position Daily have also shown that more than 42 people lost their
lives, while 197 sustained various degrees of injuries in a series of tragic accidents involving
articulated vehicles across Lagos State in 2023.

This is according to data obtained by our correspondent from the Federal Road Safety Corp
(FRSC), Lagos state. According to the report, a total of 252 road traffic incidents (RTIs) were
recorded last year alone, with fatalities reaching a devastating 42. The severity of the accidents
resulted in 115 individuals suffering serious injuries, while 82 others sustained lesser injuries.

According to the data provided to our correspondent by the Sector Commander for Lagos state;
Babatunde Farinloye, the year witnessed 119 trucks accidents, 28 tankers accidents and 105
trailer accidents, totaling 252 accidents recorded in 2023.

Apparently to stem the tide of accidents involving these trucks, a few years ago, the Nigerian
Ports Authority (NPA) introduced the Minimum Safety Standard (MSS) for trucks coming into
the port.

The enforcement of Minimum Safety Standard meant that every truck that enters the port must
have passed the minimum standard and certified okay to play Nigerian roads with the cargo that
they convey.

Currently, the responsibility of ensuring the Minimum Safety Standard is being carried out by
the Truck Transit Parks (TTP) on behalf of the NPA. This, according to the contract of
engagement between the NPA and Truck Transit Parks means that the trucks must now be
certified electronically and their road worthiness and integrity ascertained.
According to information made available to this newspaper, the causes of truck accidents vary,
and the government, state actors as well as owners and drivers of the trucks are to be blamed.

Some of these factors include, poorly-maintained vehicles, very young, untrained and
inexperienced drivers, overloading and bad roads, driver fatigue as well as disregard for traffic
regulations.

It is a fact that, Nigeria’s road network is in dire need of an upgrade. Most of the roads are in
terrible condition, making it difficult for drivers to maintain control of their vehicles. Also the
lack of road signs and traffic lights make it challenging for drivers to navigate the roads.

Similarly, the truck drivers should avoid overloading, which is a common practice among truck
drivers in Nigeria. It significantly affects the weight balance of the truck, making it difficult for
the driver to control the vehicle. In some cases, overloaded trucks cause serious road accidents
that lead to fatalities.

In addition, truck drivers are expected to play a significant role in reducing truck accidents.
However, most of the truck drivers in Nigeria are untrained, and some of them drive under the
influence of drugs or alcohol. Also the fatigue and the long hours spent on the road can also
cause driver errors, which can lead to fatal accidents.

The state actors and government agencies saddled with the responsibility of ensuring safety on
our roads must be proactive and not reactive, they must enforce strict penalties for traffic
offenses, such as overloading, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and non-
compliance with traffic regulations. This will encourage drivers to drive more responsibly and
reduce truck accidents.

Going by the causal factors, it is apparent that, traffic regulators such as: Federal Road Safety
Corp, (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Vehicle Inspection
Service (VIS) including government agency such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the
terminal operators must enforce mandatory training and certification of truck drivers.

The training should cover road safety, and other essential skills that are necessary to operate a
truck safely. The truck owners must put their vehicles in good serviceable condition, and conduct
regular inspections to ensure that they are roadworthy.

Also the maintenance of trucks is critical in reducing truck accidents. In Nigeria, most of the
trucks are poorly-maintained, leading to frequent mechanical faults that cause accidents.

There is no gainsaying that the consequences of truck accidents are devastating, both for the
victims and society at large. Truck accidents result in the loss of human lives, property damage,
and significant economic losses. The victims and their families suffer immeasurable emotional
and financial losses, while society is burdened with the cost of treatment, rehabilitation, and
compensation for the victims.
To reduce truck accidents on our roads, all stakeholders must work together. The federal and
state governments, truck owners, and drivers including NPA that regulates the ports must take
proactive steps to address this issue.

We call on government at all levels, to invest in upgrading the road network, fixing potholes as
well as providing adequate road signs and traffic lights to make the roads safer for drivers.

The consequences of truck accidents are devastating, and it is time for all stakeholders to take
action to reduce these accidents. The government, truck owners, drivers and terminal operators
must work together to improve the road infrastructure, enforce traffic regulations, train drivers
and certify trucks, before they are put on the highways as incessant truck accidents in Nigeria
have become a major concern for the government and society at large.

Finally, we maintain that truck accidents is a failure of government agency, and for accidents to
be curtail, there is need for enforcement of safety standards by these organisation.

We are aware that relevant agencies of government, especially the FRSC is doing what it is
supposed to do.

We are told that this involves cracking down on violations such as un-lashed containers,
inappropriate loading, and transportation of animals with passengers.

Whatever the FRSC does, including creating a safer environment for all road users and
preventing further loss of life on Lagos roads, for as long as these accidents persists, we are still
far from accidents involving articulated vehicles leading to loss of lives.
MONTH 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 TOTAL
JAN 100 43 71 30 88 591 923
FEB 109 67 28 35 496 418 1153
MAR 128 16 76 40 477 611 1348
APR 46 9 32 133 314 480 1014
MAY 43 26 34 168 511 469 1251
JUN 46 32 60 169 527 932 1766
JUL 23 40 13 108 437 533 1154
AUG 76 24 82 116 645 356 1299
SEP 86 6 74 55 518 457 1196
OCT 62 4 41 104 250 431 892
NOV 60 18 50 131 563 395 1217
DEC 26 43 16 79 506 361 1031
TOTAL 805 328 577 1,168 5,332 6,034 14,244

SOURCE: Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)

MONTH 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 TOTAL
JAN 26 8 7 2 7 20 70
FEB 23 20 7 1 9 8 68
MAR 17 5 12 6 25 10 75
APR 9 5 3 14 11 8 50
MAY 2 2 2 7 16 10 39
JUN 7 1 17 5 20 23 73
JUL 5 7 12 9 23 10 66
AUG 10 2 12 6 32 31 93
SEP 9 9 2 - 9 23 52
OCT 5 6 2 13 7 4 37
NOV 6 2 9 4 8 3 32
DEC 9 1 - 7 18 8 43
TOTAL 128 68 85 74 185 158 698
SOURCE: Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)
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TABLE 49: MONTHLY NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED IN ROAD
ACCIDENTS IN LAGOS STATE: YEAR 2014 - 2019
TABLE 50: MONTHLY NUMBER OF PERSONS KILLED IN ROAD
ACCIDENTS IN LAGOS STATE: YEAR 2014 - 2019

FATAL SERIOUSMINOR TOTAL

2011 47 143 263 453
2012 116 240 505 861
2013 92 255 763 1,110
2014 92 240 890 1,222
2015 45 117 382 544
2016 40 194 471 705
2017 57 486 1,824 2,367
2018 982 2,865 2,801 6,648
2019 119 3,336 2,117 5,572
TOTAL 1,590 7,876 10,016 19,482
MALE FEMALETOTAL MALE FEMALE TOTAL
2011 47 22 69 279 164 443 512
2012 113 58 171 455 253 708 879
2013 95 40 135 482 304 786 921
2014 108 20 128 542 263 805 933
2015 50 18 68 226 101 327 395
2016 51 34 85 347 230 577 662
2017 55 26 81 730 445 1,175 1,256
2018 164 28 192 3,704 1,627 5,331 5,523
2019 137 21 158 4,469 1,565 6,034 6,192
TOTAL 820 267 1,087 11,234 4,952 16,186 17,273
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YEAR
YEAR GRAND
TOTAL
SOURCE: Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)
TABLE 51: CLASSIFICATION OF ROAD
ACCIDENTS IN LAGOS STATE BY
CATEGORY: YEAR 2011- 2019
CATEGORY OF ACCIDENT
SOURCE: Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA
TH 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 TOTAL

JAN 100 43 71 30 88 591 923

FEB 109 67 28 35 496 418 1153

MAR 128 16 76 40 477 611 1348

APR 46 9 32 133 314 480 1014

MAY 43 26 34 168 511 469 1251

JUN 46 32 60 169 527 932 1766

JUL 23 40 13 108 437 533 1154

AUG 76 24 82 116 645 356 1299

SEP 86 6 74 55 518 457 1196

OCT 62 4 41 104 250 431 892

NOV 60 18 50 131 563 395 1217

DEC 26 43 16 79 506 361 1031

TOTAL 805 328 577 1,168 5,332 6,034 14,244

SOURCE: Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)

MONTH 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 TOTAL

JAN 26 8 7 2 7 20 70

FEB 23 20 7 1 9 8 68

MAR 17 5 12 6 25 10 75

APR 9 5 3 14 11 8 50

MAY 2 2 2 7 16 10 39

JUN 7 1 17 5 20 23 73

JUL 5 7 12 9 23 10 66

AUG 10 2 12 6 32 31 93

SEP 9 9 2 - 9 23 52

OCT 5 6 2 13 7 4 37

NOV 6 2 9 4 8 3 32

DEC 9 1 - 7 18 8 43

TOTAL 128 68 85 74 185 158 698

SOURCE: Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)

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