Most trucks on Nigerian roads are older than I am, says FRSC commander

Hyginus Omeje, Lagos state sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), says most of the trucks plying Nigerian roads are old and need to be changed.

Omeje said this on Wednesday when speaking on truck-related accidents and the need to regulate movement of the vehicles in the state.

According to him, most of the trucks are older than he and many Nigerians, and they lack road worthiness owing to overuse and poor maintenance.

He also said human, mechanical and environmental factors have been responsible for a high number of road fatalities.

“Most of these vehicles that we have on our roads, particularly trucks, tankers and trailers are overage,” Omege said.

“They are old and need to be replaced but the economy is not telling the operators to do the needful.

“Most of the trucks on our roads are actually old, older than you and I. They need to be changed to further enhance safety on the roads.

“At times, you see a truck having a lone crash and you begin to ask of the cause. The cause may be that the driver slept off or the truck not mechanically sound and being managed.”

He said the state of the roads is not as important as the attitudinal disposition of drivers on them.

He said most drivers are not careful whether the roads are good or bad.

“The issue of the road is even a double-edged sword. We have had cases where some sections of the road that were well-expanded and rehabilitated witnessed fatal crashes when drivers wanted to finish their speedometer,” he said.

“Good roads can cause crashes; bad roads can also cause crashes.

“It is expected from that man behind the wheel to use the road in line with laid-down rules and regulations.

“If we can obey traffic rules and regulations and drive defensive, we can avoid all these crashes. Many times, vehicles that are not roadworthy are being managed by their drivers.”