Osun accident: Adeleke approves Ilesa road expansion, trailer park

Gov. Ademola Adeleke has directed the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to rehabilitate and widen the Ibodi-Ilesa road in the Ilesa area of the state to forestall the incessant accidents that have claimed lives in recent times.

A statement by his spokesman, Malam Olawale Rasheed, on Friday in Osogbo said the governor gave his approval while receiving the report of a committee he set up after the unfortunate accident that claimed the life of a female staff member of the University of Ilesa.

The governor directedthe Commissioner for Transportation to consider the creation of a trailer park in the area to stop multiple trailer parkings in the area.

While condoling with the family of the university staff member who lost her life in the accident, the governorendorsed the compensation package already agreed upon between the owner of the truck and the family of the deceased.

He, however, said that no amount of monetary compensation could replace the loss of a “precious life”.

Adeleke, whoalso approved the creation of regulations to govern trucking activities along the said road,warned companies operating in the state to be mindful of the safety and security of their host communities.

“We are putting stiff regulations in place to prevent recurrence of such sad incidents in the future.

“The Ministry of Works will work on expanding the road, and the Ministry of Transportation will develop a trailer park.

“Parking of trailers on that narrow road is hereby prohibited. The speed limit should also be enforced with immediate effect,” he said.

The chairman of the committee, Mr. Sesan Oyedele, said members of the committee visited the families of the deceased, the affected company, and the management of the University of Ilesa.

“We commiserated with the family and negotiated with the grieving family.

“We concluded a settlement under very difficult conditions.

”We conveyed Your Excellency’s heartfelt sympathy to the affected family,” he said.

Supreme News recalls that a female staff member of the University of Ilesa died on April 3 when acontainer filled with cashew nuts being conveyed by a truck fell on her car.

The accident, which happened on the Ilesa/Ibodi expressway, a few meters away from the university’s gate, caused panic, as people made efforts to rescue the victim whose car was trapped under the container.