Ali Baba takes on govt over failure to enact laws safeguarding road users

Ace comedian Ali Baba has joined the growing list of celebrities who have reacted to the tragic tanker explosion which happened on Thursday at the Otedola Bridge, Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

However, unlike his counterparts who took to social media to express their sympathy and extend condolences to families of victims who lost their lives during the tragic tanker explosion, Ali Baba is taking on the government.

The Comedian is miffed that there are no enabling laws safeguarding road users unlike other saner climes where heavy duty vehicles move at night or at specified times.

He wrote thus on his Instagram page; “In organized societies, where traffic is a major issue, tankers and heavy duty vehicles move at night or at specified times.

“In developed climes, MOT agencies… are as serious as the police force. In some other climes, that have deep shores like we do, only one port can not be used for discharge of staples like fuel, and even then, fuel and transportation of inflammable contents are done in controlled methods.

“We are a lawless country. If government tries to organize these same tankers now, they will go on strike, shut down the economy and day to day running, and we will let them continue. Same thing with teachers… try to get them to go get retrained and be Twitter qualified to teach, they will strike and we are back to status quo.

Read also: Celebrities react to deadly Lagos tanker explosion

“We do not punish people who even chop monies meant for projects. Projects that have been captured in the budget and monies released. The same people who chop the monies will now be in the ruling party and to prosecute them becomes a No No. And as nothing is done to them another person will do it.

“Just imagine. Nigerians died today because of avoidable precautions and failure to create policies and laws that have consequences that could have deterred that tanker from being on that road.

“But no, lawmakers don’t care. The Executives ‘no send’ and the JUDICIARY is not jailing them. Bet me, more tankers will fall. Nothing will be done. Nothing.”

The incident reportedly happened after a petrol-laden tanker crashed and exploded at the Otedola Bridge, Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Reports say the explosion claimed nine lives burn five buses, two trucks, one tricycle, and 45 cars.

In a statement after the incident, spokesman for the FRSC, Bisi Kazeem said; “A crash involving a fallen loaded tanker crash has occurred around Otedola bridge on the outward Lagos section of the expressway. Many vehicles caught fire in the process.”

 

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