The penultimate weekend late-evening multiple motor vehicle accident with record fatalities is one tragic incident that occurred in the Imo State capital which devastated not a few residents and people of the state.
The terrible accident which happened at the ever-busy and bustling Imo State University Junction by Okigwe Road had reportedly claimed several lives. The accident involved an articulated truck which driver was said to have lost control as he was descending the hill, and approached the junction from the Orji axis.
Those quite familiar with traffic patterns within the state capital will easily concede to the fact that the IMSU Junction by Okigwe Road is a very busy spot with a record of traffic congestion almost all evenings. The fact that the traffic lights for regulating vehicular movements at the very busy junction are constantly functional have not completely helped in sanitising or easing traffic management or movement in this strategic corridor of the city. The hordes of traffic management personnel from different known and unknown agencies milling around the vast spot have not helped in putting the near-chaotic traffic situation there under control.
As a matter of fact, before the widening of the junction and the elimination of the vast roundabout there, accidents were recorded on a rather frequent basis. Most of them were of fatal proportions. As the roads that converged at the junction were expanded and the massive roundabout displaced, accidents became less frequent along with the fatality rate. Nevertheless, the near-chaotic traffic did not disappear.
Since the junction lies at the foot of Ugwu Orji, as the long stretch of the Orji hill is called in the local parlance, heavy-duty trucks and trailers descending the hill from the Orji-Okigwe end often stand the heavy risks of encountering break failures with hugely devastating consequences. The effects of such outcomes on motorists and other road users are always better imagined than encountered as was the case penultimate Saturday.
Perhaps, what would have prevented the loss of lives, or severe injuries and destruction of vehicles and adjoining buildings could have been the erection of bumps on the major axis from Orji into Owerri metropolis. Relevant authorities have before now failed to see the usefulness and preventive benefits of erecting bumps in the ever-busy and hilly road. Possibly, such preventive mechanism would have helped in averting the horrible accident that occurred last Saturday or drastically reduced the fatality rate.
Fortunately, the authorities have suddenly been roused from deep slumber by the recent horrendous accident. It’s quite unusual, but much-relieving that barely 36 hours after the tragic deaths at IMSU Junction, bumps are being erected in the Orji road approach to the city. Certainly, this will substantially reduce the rate of accidents at the junction notorious for such incidents, as well as the attendant avoidable loss of lives.
I salute the State Government for this swift intervention. I urge more action in this direction, especially in locations with similar threats to motorists and other road users. One area that readily comes to mind is the Holy Ghost College-Orlu Road Junction stretch. Such intervening action is most essential as a proactive step in stemming the occurrence of ghastly motor accidents within the Owerri metropolis.
Very importantly, the control of incessant traffic mishaps at the IMSU Junction and the Holy Ghost College by Orlu Road Junction cannot be achieved substantially without total elimination of indiscriminate parking and blocking of considerable portions of the roads by commercial vehicle drivers. The unruly behaviours of mostly commercial bus drivers, especially in parking their vehicles indiscriminately and disobeying traffic lights, even under the watch of uniformed traffic management personnel contribute immensely to the chaotic scenarios in our roads.
Such habits, by extension, have far-reaching implications for the safety or otherwise of other road users and motorists.
In many cases, some of the uniformed traffic operatives are suspected of being compromised and permitting parking and loading of passengers in areas dangerous to commuters and the motoring public. Government must stop this with immediate effect. Parking and loading of passengers at IMSU Junction and Orlu Road Junction by Warehouse must end without any further delay. Designated bus stops should be erected at locations completely removed from these junctions. Road barriers could be constructed in unauthorised loading areas to make it impossible for commercial vehicles to operate in those prohibited spots.
Finally, disobedience to traffic lights should be made grievous traffic offences. Surveillance cameras should be installed to monitor compliance and heavy fines imposed on violators, including committal to jail, especially for second or multiple offenders.
Meanwhile, my heart goes out to all the families of those unlucky victims, who lost their precious lives in the IMSU Junction tragic accident. I sincerely urge them to bear the irreparable losses with total faith in God, as I pray for the repose of the souls of their beloved ones.
Similarly, I sympathize with all injured persons involved in that avoidable accident. It’s my earnest desire and wish that all of them shall recover very soon.
Finally, I wish to encourage the State Government to fully shoulder the cost of treatment of all injured victims of the unfortunate accident and to render financial support to the immediate families of the deceased victims.
May all hands be on deck to avert the repeat of such monumental disaster in future.
Joachim OLUMBA (Retd CIS), KSJI
Emetumba-Dikenafai & Omekannaya-Nchoke
