A horrific road traffic accident at the notorious Toll Gate area of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway has claimed the lives of three people. The Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) officially confirmed the fatalities on Thursday, February 5, 2026, following a devastating collision involving a heavy-duty truck and several unsuspecting commuters.
The incident, which occurred late Wednesday night, has once again turned the spotlight on the deteriorating state of heavy-duty vehicle maintenance in Nigeria. As families mourn, officials are calling for stricter enforcement of roadworthiness standards to prevent such avoidable tragedies.
The Chronology of the Tragedy
According to Mr. Salau Hammed, the Ota Divisional Commander of TRACE, the accident unfolded when a Scania truck loaded with plywood lost control. The vehicle, bearing the registration number GGE 681 XD, was reportedly descending from the Sango axis toward the Toll Gate.
Preliminary investigations suggest that as the driver attempted to slow down for the congested transit point, the truck suffered a catastrophic brake failure. With the heavy weight of the plywood behind it, the vehicle became a runaway projectile on the busy expressway.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as sheer chaos. The truck, unable to decelerate, plowed directly into a stationary vehicle before veering into a crowd of commuters. These individuals were standing by the roadside, simply waiting for commercial buses to transport them to their various destinations. The lack of barriers at the transit point meant there was nothing to shield the pedestrians from the oncoming impact.
Casualties and Emergency Response Efforts
The Divisional Commander provided a grim breakdown of the human cost of the collision. Out of the four individuals directly struck by the runaway truck, three died on the spot.
Breakdown of the Victims:
- Fatalities: Two adult males and one adult female.Survivor: One individual sustained severe injuries and is currently receiving medical attention.
- Post-Mortem: The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the General Hospital morgue in Ifo for preservation and subsequent identification by their families.
Consequently, the aftermath of the crash caused significant gridlock on the Lagos-Abeokuta corridor. TRACE officials, alongside other emergency responders, worked through the night to manage the scene. The crashed Scania truck and the secondary vehicle involved were eventually towed away to restore the flow of traffic by early Thursday morning.
Analyzing Mechanical Failure: The Danger of Poor Maintenance
Mechanical deficiencies, particularly brake failures, remain a leading cause of road traffic accidents in Ogun State. When a vehicle as large as a Scania truck—especially one loaded with heavy materials like plywood—experiences a brake system collapse, the kinetic energy is immense.
Furthermore, many heavy-duty trucks in Nigeria utilize air brake systems that require meticulous and regular servicing. If the air lines leak or the brake pads are worn beyond the limit, the system cannot generate the pressure needed to stop the rotating drums. In this specific incident at the Toll Gate, the combination of a downward slope and a heavy load made the mechanical failure fatal.
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Official Warnings and Advocacy for Road Safety
In the wake of this tragedy, Commander Hammed issued a stern and urgent warning to all motorists, particularly those operating commercial and heavy-duty vehicles. He emphasized that the safety of other road users depends entirely on the mechanical integrity of the vehicles sharing the road.
“Motorists must prioritize the roadworthiness of their vehicles before embarking on any trip,” Hammed stated firmly. “We urge drivers to avoid excessive speeding and to conduct regular maintenance on critical systems like brakes. These lives were lost to an avoidable mechanical fault.”
Key Safety Recommendations for Truck Operators:
- Pre-Trip Inspections: Always check air pressure levels and brake responsiveness before leaving the depot.
- Load Management: Ensure that loads are balanced and do not exceed the vehicle’s maximum carrying capacity.
- Speed Control: Heavy vehicles should maintain low speeds, especially when approaching high-density areas like the Toll Gate.
- Routine Maintenance: Replace brake shoes and check for hydraulic or air leaks every few weeks, not just when a problem arises.
The Toll Gate: A High-Risk Transit Zone
The Toll Gate area on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway is a well-known high-density zone. It serves as a major intersection where thousands of commuters board buses daily. However, the proximity of pedestrians to fast-moving heavy-duty traffic creates a constant risk.
TRACE has indicated that in light of Wednesday’s accident, they will increase monitoring and enforcement at this specific location. This includes cracking down on illegal parking by commercial bus drivers, which often forces commuters to stand further out into the roadway.
Additionally, there are growing calls from the public for the Ogun State Ministry of Transportation to install concrete barriers or designated “bus bays” at the Toll Gate. Such infrastructure would provide a physical shield for pedestrians and better organize the flow of traffic, reducing the likelihood of a vehicle plowing into a crowd during a mechanical failure.
Conclusion: A Call for Collective Responsibility
The loss of three lives on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway is a somber reminder of the fragility of life on Nigerian roads. While the TRACE officials have cleared the wreckage, the emotional scars for the survivors and the families of the deceased will remain.
Ultimately, road safety is a collective responsibility. While government agencies like TRACE can enforce laws and clear accidents, the primary duty of safety lies with vehicle owners. Ensuring a truck is roadworthy is not just a legal requirement; it is a moral obligation to protect the lives of everyone on the road.
