Toll Gate fire: Ogun government commiserates with victims

The Ogun State State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Saturday, commiserated with the victims of Ogun tollgate fire incident dead and alive as well as those that suffered loss of properties, pledging his administration's commitment to cushion the effect of the incident on the victims.

While praying for the repose of the deceased souls, Abiodun wished those in the hospital a speeding recovery, adding that the government of Ogun State would pick the medical bills of all victims in the hospital.

The Governor, however, noted, to the applause of all and sundry, that it was obvious that roads were bad and required serious attention, particularly the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway which, according to the governor, himself and his counterpart in Lagos, Babajide Sanwoolu, had written to the federal government to cede the road to the two state governments for maintenance.

Abiodun stated that his government was not insensitive to the plight of the masses in this circumstance, saying that was why they have always resorted to palliative measures, while wishing their prayer in that regard was answered by the government at the center.

With the governor at the scene were his deputy, Engineer (Mrs) Noimot Salako and a host of top government functionaries in the state.

Also present to sympathize with the victims of the ugly incident were a two-term member of the state House of Assembly and currently a member of the state Judicial Commission, Honourable Aina Akinpelu, the Corps Commander of Traffic Compliance and Enforcement (TRACE) in the state, Seni Ogunyemi and the Isaac Ogbah-led executive officers of the Otta branch of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).

It would be recalled that a Petrol-ladden truck, belonging to MRS, suddenly developed a mechanical fault while ascending the hilly landscape  towards Sango, forcing it to roll back, only to hit the road median and upturned its content into the drainage, which spilled up to a point where there was fire.

Some identified victims of the inferno recounted their losses in tears to Crime Puzzle, asking where would they start from.

Mrs. Muinat Bakare, a fashion designer, said she had just bought some industrial machines through contribution, adding that some wedding clothing materials and some corporate wears she sowed were ready for collection before the disaster struck.

Same with an Osun-based transporter, Oyewale Taiwo, who lost his DAF truck, marked MUS 686 XY. According to Oyewale, the N7.2m truck was barely three months old. He said the driver, Ajibola Isiaka, sustained serious burns that he was referred from the State Hospital, Otta to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, and pleaded with Ogun State government to extend its charity to him.

A full load of cement-ladden truck, belonging to Dangote, another one loaded with Milo were some of the 11 trucks seriously affected by the inferno, as well as two cars and three commercial buses.

Operatives of TRACE, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Nigerian Navy (NN) and Fire-fighers were fully on ground to rescue the victims