Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Lagos, Nigeria — A fatal road accident has claimed the life of a female operative of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) along Meran Road, inward Iyana Ekoro axis, as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) swiftly apprehended the driver involved in the crash. The incident, described by authorities as both tragic and preventable, has renewed calls for improved road safety and stricter enforcement of traffic laws.
According to LASTMA officials, the victim — whose name has not yet been disclosed — was performing her routine environmental sanitation duties on Saturday morning when she was struck by a blue Ford commercial bus laden with bottled and canned beverages. Early investigations indicate the driver was reversing unlawfully and recklessly on the expressway, a move that resulted in the vehicle ramming into the unsuspecting LAWMA operative and causing fatal injuries, particularly to her head.
Eyewitnesses and traffic surveillance officers on duty responded quickly after the collision. The driver attempted to flee the scene in an apparent bid to evade responsibility, but LASTMA operatives launched a prompt pursuit, intercepting and apprehending him and the vehicle nearby. Both the suspect and the bus have since been handed over to the Meiran Police Division for further investigation and prosecution under traffic and criminal laws.
Authorities also noted that the timely intervention of traffic officials likely prevented a chaotic situation, as onlookers grew angry at the driver’s attempt to escape and were close to taking matters into their own hands before security personnel regained control of the scene.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow and condemnation over the loss of life, describing the incident as “distressing and entirely avoidable.” He reiterated that reversing on expressways is a serious traffic offence, violating the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, and warned motorists that reckless driving continues to claim lives and cause profound public grief.
The remains of the deceased were evacuated from the scene by LAWMA officials for necessary procedures, in accordance with local practice following such tragedies. LASTMA reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing traffic regulations and protecting lives on Lagos roads, while extending condolences to the victim’s family, colleagues and loved ones.
This accident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety for frontline sanitation workers and other vulnerable road users in Nigeria’s busiest state, and is likely to fuel further advocacy for enhanced protective measures, public awareness campaigns and stricter penalties for reckless road behaviour.
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