It is not something new to the ears of Nigerians about the recklessness of truck driver’s killings. In fact there is the general perception that most truck drivers oftentimes do not have a functional breaks in their vehicles and that some of them do fall asleep especially as they usually drive at night time and r as such they veer off the road or into ditches, people’s houses or buildings, farmlands markets etc.
A particular reference has been made to Dangote‘s truck with regards to such recklessness and incessant killings. There was a particular time wherein students Auchi polytechnic and indigenes complained bitterly about several lives that were lost as a result of the carelessness of Dangote truck and their drivers.
On several occasions as these, such trucks were being burnt down and several demonstrations were carried out by students and indigenes such as road blocks and protest all amounting to nothing after a period of time.
Painfully however, it is noteworthy to state that, in all of these sceneries, such trucks are being insured and the owner being Dangote, is so wealthy that destroying or burning any of his trucks seem irrelevant in terms of a business setback.
This ugly trend is still ongoing and nothing has been done so far by the federal government to curtail the dangers posed by these trucks that ply the roads daily with regards to the lives and properties of fellow Nigerians.
Just recently it was reported that a Nigerian University was shut down in Ondo state indefinitely over students’ death caused by Dangote truck
According to the story, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, AAUA, has been shut down indefinitely. The indefinite closure of the school was confirmed about 24 hours after an accident caused by a truck belonging to Dangote Group claimed the lives of some students of the institution.
News sources DAILY POST confirmed that about 12 persons were feared dead when a Dangote truck loaded with bags of cement crushed passersby, students and traders before ramming into shops opposite the university after it suffered break failure in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government area of Ondo State.
It was later revealed by eyewitnesses that the decision to shut down the school by the authorities was as a result of result of the rising tension amongst students as well as indigenes of the community over the allegation that the government has failed to find lasting solutions to the incessant road crashes which had claimed lots of lives in the community.
Reacting to the present situation, the university authorities in a circular signed by the Acting Registrar of the institution, Opeoluwa Akinfemiwa, instructed that students of the institutions were to leave the school premises by 6:00 pm on Sunday
According to the circular, it was stated that ; “Further to our circular of Saturday 23rd January, 2021 and the attendant protest by students on Sunday, 24th January, 2021, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof Olugbenga Ige, on behalf of Senate, has directed that the University be closed with immediate effect until further notice.
“All students are therefore advised to vacate the campus latest by 6pm today, Sunday 24th January, 2021.”
Meanwhile some of the angry youths within the community had refused a government delegation from entering the community on sunday.
The Ondo state Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu sent some delegation to assess the situation, amongst them were the Chief of Staff, Olugbenga Ale and the Pro-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Dr. Tunji Abayomi.
It is obvious that something drastic needs to be done by both the federal and state governments in order to tackle these reoccurring ugly Incidences so as to ensure safety in activities of citizens lives and properties who daily ply or live around these major roads often used by these truck drivers.
Gift Joseph Okpakorese
Staff Writer
