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William J. Zick
Nigerian Trailers: Serial Killers on Wheels
How many lives must we lose before our leaders know it is time to act? Our government need to do something about these death-traps on Nigerian roads. Too many lives have been lost because of these uncontrolled, unruly and unregulated monsters on our roads. How long are we going to remain silent with our arms folded? I am tired of nothing, I am mad, angry and extremely frustrated because of my helplessness.
Seeing these sometimes tailgate-less trailers recklessly speeding and smoking like they are about to explode is definitely not an unusual sight on Nigerian roads. In fact I am convinced Nigeria is the dumping ground for these rejected, unworthy deadly monsters. They have infested our roads, manipulating it with no care in the world and terrorizing others who dare to come close. They have damaged the little good roads we have left (see the Ibadan-Lagos expressway) and have made road-travel around the country an unpleasant and fearsome voyage. These lethal unfit machines combined with their equally wicked incompetent drivers are the greatest killers of thousands in Nigeria. Its’ drivers pilot the gigantic wheelers with blatant disregard for human life.
If you investigate thoroughly you will find that almost all ghastly motor accidents in Nigeria have been caused by these disruptive monsters. Six years ago my younger brother was killed by one while attending to his car on the side of the road, the memory of the accident still haunts me till today. On my last visit home I too was almost killed by one on Ibadan expressway but luckily I narrowed escaped. Last week Imnakoya blogged about the many lives consumed in the tragic sweeping fire caused by a tanker oil-spillage in Sagamu. And just yesterday a very dear friend of mine was killed because of two trailer drivers’ callous and insensitivity to people’s lives.
How many more lives must these ogres claim before our leaders wake up from their slumber? These serial killers must be stopped and fast. It has left too many families without a father, mother, brother or sister all because our government is not ready/willing to regulate . Trailer drivers and owners need a very tight leash and failure to arrest this predicatement will continue to rob and deprive families of their loved ones. More now than ever, we are desperate for our leaders’ help to conquer these crisis.
Muti This
Omotaylor | Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Dear Misi
First sorry about your loss. I know the feeling having lost a dearest cousin (actually more a brother than cousin) the same way 9 years ago. For over 40 years now the situation of Tanker/Trailer killers has grown from bad to the very worst in Nigeria. Nothing much has been done.
Dear Caretaker
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN INTRODUCE AFRICAN LOFT TO GOVERNORS, MPS AND POWERS THAT BE IN NIGERIA, AND EVEN THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT? IF THEY DONT HAVE THE TIME TO READ THE BLOG THEMSELVES, THEIR PRESS SECRETARIES SHOULD FOR IT IS REALLY SAD THAT SO MUCH SENSE IS BEING SAID ON THE LOFT YET I AM NOT SURE IF THE AUDIENCE INCLUDES NIGERIAN DECISION MAKERS.
D-Tee | Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Introduce “AFRICAN LOFT TO GOVERNORS, MPS AND POWERS THAT BE IN NIGERIA”?
Uhmmmm!!! I do not intend to be rude ma’am it appears you have been away from Nigeria for a long time. These people do not read, not even their press secretaries. And even if they do they are yet to understand what citizen media is about.
What I’d suggest is ordinary folks finding ways to socially advocate for issues they are passionate about. Misi has lost some dear ones to road traffic accidents, and almost lost her life too, and there are several people with similar experiences. What can she and others do about this? Can she find people of like minds and start advocating for change? Sure!!!
Imnakoya’s article suggested making owners of commercial vehicles liable to the damages and injuries they cause, I read Misi’s profile, she is a lawyer, what legislations can she help draft and propose to national assembly to reduce road accidents and fatalities in Nigeria? It is this kind of forward thinking that brings about changes, I think, not necessary calling on “leaders” who got to positions of power and authority through the back door!
Omotaylor | Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Dear D-Tee, I have not been far away from Nigeria at all. I share your feelings but what I am trying to do is what we call the “force field analysis” which focusses on positivity and instead of fighting the negatives, first beleive that something positive could come from it and work towards it. Never say die. For example, look at the animalistic behaviour of our MPs during Ettehgate punch up, but are they still not sitting as MP’s? So we cannot say die and every inch of effort we can make should not be derided.
Your suggestion of Social Advocacy is also good and am sure that there are many other suggestions forthcoming, so “ona kan o wo oja” i.e. not just one road to enter the market. To actualise all our plans and drafts and proposals, we still need to go through the leaders and powers that be so its time to start targetting them and beleive you me, we can educate them in areas they are lacking.
Do you agree that these leaders are not as dense as they present themselves? They will shake up and you will see a rapid change for the better by the time we finish with them. Mark my words, so let us target our writings, opinions and feelings at them also amongst other things we do.
By the way, I will go again to Nigeria soon and I will be asking Caretaker for African Loft business cards to give to Governors, Commissioners etc etc. I will not relent in whatever little practical efforts I can make. Hope I make sense now D-tee.
Misi | Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
@D-Tee,
To be honest with you I agree more with Ms Omo-T, I don’t really know how effective social advocacy groups are in Nigeria. Even if they were I think this is particular issue is beyond them, because it definitely calls for government input since it is a nationwide problem. Government need to create laws and stiff penalties for failure to adhere to them. We need tough regulations regulating these trailers/tankers, drivers and owners ensuring that only roadworthy ones can get on the road and making sure it has good manpower to enforce the laws. Right now with police corruption implementing such laws seems hopeless but if government can pay them well and train them to be strict like LASMA/ Road-safety just maybe we can begin to see a visible change. Until then all we can do is pray and hope the situation will improve.
D-Tee | Nov 7, 2007 | Reply
I agree there are several ways to skin a chicken.
The average Nigerian “leader” (and follower too) does not have a leadership mentality. Leadership to them is being in positions of power and authority; having the “people answer to them”, and being able to use their “power” and the instrument of their offices for personal gains. This is the typical mentality a “leader” has in Nigeria and sadly too, his followers share this as well. It is these “leaders” and “followers” that constitute government, so the government is really us, Nigerians!
So let me ask, why hasn’t the “government” curb the road traffic deaths in Nigeria all this while? The “laws the government need to create” will not automatically find its way into the legislative bill without some social pressure and lobbying. This is where social advocacy comes in. Nigerians must be ready to inform their representatives, both local and national – and with all seriousness too – that the road-kill on Nigerian roads must be fixed. This takes organization and forward thinking, we have to take ownership of our issues, we, the Nigerian people!
Omotaylor | Nov 7, 2007 | Reply
When Wole Soyinka was in charge of the Road Marshalls, things were working well and wreckless drivers were restrained and even arrested. What frustrates me is that good and effective ventures dont last long in Nigeria and success stories are shortlived. There is always a peak to everything good or bad, and it is my prayer that the ugly evil and nasty side of things in Nigeria has peaked and time for change. We can try make something good out of the present situation. I still beleive that there is a good chance that voicing out our feelings, opinions and advice and also decrying openly the problems in Nigeria is not a wasted effort at all.
@Caretakeer, any chance of getting AFRICAN LOFT business cards to promote the Loft and draw the attention of Lawmakers and Leaders in Nigeria to the Loft? If I hand out 100 and only 10 log on the Loft, it is still a success story.
If the government is really us Nigerians, D-tee, please actualise a mission in Nigeria that affects Nigerians, not on the private level and feed me back on how you got it done without the leader’s go ahead. Cant see this happening.
pamela | Nov 7, 2007 | Reply
I am sorry for your loss Misi.
I agree
D-Tee | Nov 7, 2007 | Reply
Omotaylor: The fact that I can’t give you a feedback on a “social advocacy” mission in Nigeria does not weaken my statement. Nigerians need to see the true meanings of the words “leaders” and “government”, and start looking for ways to be more pro-active and effectively engage the leaders to live up to their responsibilities.
Somehow, it appears we are all saying the same thing but from different perspectives.
If leaders are all it takes to get stuff done, my question remain still unanswered:
“Why hasn’t the “government” curb the road traffic deaths in Nigeria all this while?”
CareTaker | Nov 7, 2007 | Reply
It appears the comments on this post so far are written with the same aim and end-result, but from different perspectives. The end-result in this matter is effecting changes.
There is a clear need for (more) social advocacy in Nigeria, given the lackadaisical nature of leadership in the country. To advocate for social issues is important for the purpose of spurring those in authority into action. This is one of the foundations of democracy. Yes, Nigeria isn’t “there” yet, but it has become more important than ever that the governed keep finding ways to engage their “leaders”, who have become somewhat insulated from the realities on ground.
What Omotaylor stated and plans to do – engage some decision makers in Nigeria – is necessary and a pivotal piece of social advocacy. What is required is consistency of message and the ability to make a compelling case for the cause, whatever this may be. It involves building productive collaborations with relevant entities, and being very visible on ground.
Omotaylor | Nov 8, 2007 | Reply
@Caretaker, I note you have helped create the Lagos Bloggers Group. Thank you very much. We shall try to carry on in our little efforts to promote social advocacy and as you rightly (better) stated above “build productive collaborations with relevant entities”
Misi | Nov 8, 2007 | Reply
“Building productive collaborations with relevant entities are fantastic ideas”—on paper. But in reality how do you think it will work? We all know that unless you know someone up there nobody will give you the time of the day. And knowing someone means pulling strings and a lot of leg-work to gain the attention of people who can really matter.
Omotaylor | Nov 9, 2007 | Reply
Dear Misi, still worth trying for who I know i will liaise with, then who I know that Knows who matters I will liaise with etc. Hard work but a little is better than nothing and for this I wish to try. The one or two I know are already viewing the Loft when they can. Little drops of water will make this mighty ocean on Nigeria I hope.