Two Port Users Die, 1 Losses Spinal Cord due to Reckless Truck Driving At Tin Can Port 

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Two port users have lost their lives while one has suffered spinal cord injury due to a ghastly accident involving a container truck colliding with three vehicles at the second gate of the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos in July 3rd, 2024.

Speaking at a sensitization exercise organised by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for truck drivers in Apapa on Tuesday, Chief port Safety Officer of the Tin Can Island Port Complex, Mr Sunday Patrick, said the ghastly accident occurred because the “motor boy’ gained access to the truck and decided to enter the expressway.

“Talking about truck drivers behaviour, I would like to site an example from the last accident that happened at Tin Can island Port second gate, where the motor boy find his way on the wheel of the truck and sped up to the expressway, thereby causing a ghastly accident involving three vehicles

“Two people lost their lives and somebody damaged his Spinal Cord. Again, while one of my officers went for rescue operation, he had a deep cut on his left leg as well as fracture of the bones” he said

The NPA CPSO lamented that the behaviour of truck drivers is hindering the minimum safety standard of trucks that has been put in place by the port Authority.

“We have gone round today through the length and breath of Tin Can Island Port to Lagos Port Complex, sensitising truck drivers and owners.

“We are here to tell ourselves that there is need to prioritize safety, because safety is our collective responsibility.

“At the Tin Can Island Port, some of the vehicles that come in their to do business are rickety, you see some vehicles without windshield, there are some without wipers, some without seat belts, they all come into the port to do business.

“We are not saying that the truck owners or drivers should come with 21st century vehicles, but most of the trucks that find their way into the Tin Can Port are 1956 model, all we are saying that, endeavour to keep your truck in good condition in order to avert accident on the road.

“I appeal to our esteemed truck owners to prioritize safety by keeping their trucks on good condition” he said