₦airaland Forum

The events of Wednesday on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have once again exposed the failure of leadership at both federal and state levels, with the Ogun State Government particularly culpable for its disgraceful handling of the situation, News360 Nigeria reports.

A petrol tanker crash and explosion at the NASFAT Camp area near Mowe plunged Nigeria’s busiest highway into chaos, yet 24 hours later, neither the federal nor Ogun authorities could clear the wreckage or restore order.

While the Federal Government has long been guilty of abandoning this critical artery, the silence and inaction from the Ogun State Government, despite the incident happening right within its jurisdiction, was a gross dereliction of duty.

It is indefensible that state officials allowed thousands to sleep on the highway, while law enforcement and emergency responders disappeared when they were most needed.

Since its commissioning in 1978, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has become a symbol of governmental failure.

For 21 years, under the watch of multiple presidents, including Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, Buhari, and now Tinubu, the road remains incomplete.

Yet it is Ogun State that bears immediate responsibility for this latest disgrace. The state government’s absence on a highway that serves as its economic and social lifeline is an unforgivable betrayal of its people.

Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration must be held accountable for this shameful episode. It is no longer enough to shift blame to federal authorities. As the chief security officer of the state, the governor had the mandate and means to intervene swiftly,and failed.

This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call that the lives and safety of citizens cannot be abandoned while leaders enjoy air-conditioned convoys and ignore the suffering on their roads.

The time for excuses is over.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway must be completed, emergency response systems overhauled, and Ogun State Government must accept its share of responsibility in this national disgrace.

InfoGuru118:
https://news360ng.com/ogun-govts-shameful-failure-on-lagos-ibadan-expressway-a-national-disgrace-exposed/

Mynd44:
Most Nigerian states do not have the important agencies, manpower and equipment to deal with these type of thing. A lot of times, they rely on MEMA to help out.

I guess a lot of states simply don't have the funds to allocate to it. It is bad but the sad reality

ClearFlair:
What exactly has Nigeria been doing with all the oil revenue? States can't afford equipment in a country blessed with so much natural resources and brilliant minds. Something is seriously wrong

… while law enforcement and emergency responders disappeared when they were most needed.

Aimwest:
Dapo is one of the worst governor in Nigeria