Statistics has it that 80% of road accidents in Nigeria are largely caused by human error. Just in the second quarter of last year, there were more serious cases with increased number of casualties and it will naturally be expected that all hands would be on deck to curb this growing menace that keeps claiming the lives of Nigerians but the reverse is the case. In fact, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, a total of 3,952 vehicles were involved in road traffic crashes in the first quarter of this year (2024).
Oyo state too has its own share of this continuos surge. In the third quarter of 2023, the state ‘recorded’ 160 fatal road accidents, ranking fourth in the country with speeding being the leading cause (66%). It is therefore imperative to critically see to ways of reducing road accidents and one of such is to discourage vehemently the idea of citizens displaying goods and selling right on the roadside.
In times of reckless driving, brake loss or other human errors, lives of traders who display their goods by the roadside are usually the first set of victims. Amongst many others, Oyo State residents would never forget so soon the agonies/tears that followed the many ugly incidents that happened at Bode market, Bodija market, Bola-Ige international market etc. where many lives had been lost to lawless display of product and hawkings on the roadside. And right now, at Ogbere Iyana Tioya, Ona Ara local government, we have in our hands a looming danger that can be averted.
Following the demolition of the Ogbere Iyana Tioya bridge, during the construction of the first phase of the Olorunsogo-Dagbolu road, ‘Border’ as it was nicknamed served as a convergent point for sellers and buyers to transact. There was relatively no item needed that one wouldn’t get. Then, even till late in the nights, you’ll see passers-by getting one or two things.
And now that the road construction is completed, some of these people stayed back, displaying goods at different spots on (one side of) the road; before, on and after the Ogbere Iyana-Tioya bridge.
Here is it. Government should as a matter of urgency ensure that these people vacate the road and stop littering it as they even sometimes make vehicular movement challenging especially in the evening. If need be, government should provide a safer place around and move them there as soon as possible. The truth is, there has been continuous pockets of minor accidents from front of First Bank down to Tioya Bus stop, caused by these traders displaying their products right on the road.
I therefore urge the chairman, Ona Ara local government, Dr Kolapo Temitope (Glorious) to use the instrumentalities of office to avert this looming danger.
Fakunle Busayo
Political Conscious Voter,
Ona-Ara Local Government Area,
Oyo State
