Following the recent petrol tanker accident that claimed lives and property along Otedola Estate in Berger area on Thursday 28th June, 2018, the Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade called for a review of issues surrounding movement of trailers in the state.
The Motion was moved by 14 members of the House.
The House urged the Governor to direct the State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Dipo Lawanson to ensure that long vehicles do not ply the roads in the state until 9pm.
"The House observed that the fire incident around Otedola Estate on Thursday 28, June led to avoidable deaths of several people and destroyed many properties.
"We noticed that the incident was caused by recklessness on the part of the driver, overspeeding, drinking of alcohol amongst others. It is also observed that many of the drivers do not have drivers license and many of the vehicles are not road worthy," he said.
While commending the Lagos State Government for the rapid response to the incident, the movers of the motion urged the state government to sanction any long vehicle owner that does not obtain necessary papers and ensure road worthiness of their vehicles.
Agunbiade stated that it was worrisome that long vehicles are parked on Ikorodu Road indiscriminately considering the consequences.
The House used the opportunity to call on the state's Governor to direct the Commissioner for Transportion to provide regulations for the types of vehicles that would ply Lagos roads based on their year of purchase.
Agunbiade added that the state government should direct all owners of long vehicles to go for insurance policies, provide places to park the vehicles and ensure that they follow the regulations of the state government.
"We also want to call on Governor Ambode to direct the Chief Justice of the state, Justice Olufunmilayo Oke to set up mobile courts to handle cases involving long vehicles.
"The House calls on the Minister of Power, Works and Housing to repair the roads in the state and provide weigh bridges for the vehicles," he said.
The Motion was, however, supported by Hon. Abiodun Tobun.
Contributing to the matter, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa suggested that the state Commissioner for Transport should meet with the insurance companies so that the policies would be done properly.
"The state government should have a discussion with the insurance companies so that the policies would be original and not fake.
"Our traffic law should be reviewed to reduce loss of lives on our roads. If the Otedola Estate incident had happened at night, the casualty would have been minimal," he stated.
Also speaking on the matter, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu said that the state government should call on the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edgal Imohinmi to be up and doing to ensure that the vehicle owners obtain insurance policies.
He said that the policies should be regulated by the police so that the efforts of the government would not be wasted.
The motion was also supported by Hon. Bisi Yusuf, who said that a similar incident was averted in Alimosho Area on Wednesday, adding that the matter should be taken seriously.
The Speaker of the House subsequently directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to write to the government on the matter.
Meanwhile, the House has set up a committee to review the mid-year expenditure of the Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.
The Committee is to be headed by Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, while members include Hon. Abiodun Tobun, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu, Hon. Jude Idimogu, Hon. Bisi Yusuf, Hon. Moshood Oshun, Hon. Nurudeen Saka-Solaja and Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho.
The committee was directed to submit its report within two weeks and a half.
