Lagos-Ibadan Expressway crash and ‘Ember’ Months’ myth

By TAYO OGUNBIYI

According to reports,  a police inspector and four others were killed in a multiple collision that occurred at the Kara Bridge area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The crash involved a mini truck laden with cartons of biscuits, a heavy-duty long truck, a 40-foot containerised trailer, another truck carrying sardines, and a tow truck.

This tragic incident occurred barely 24 hours after a driver was reportedly hospitalised following a collision between two trucks at the Otedola Bridge section of the same expressway. The accident on the Kara Bridge occurred after a truck rammed into a stationary, faulty truck, causing it to catch fire. The crash happened around a few minutes past 9 p.m., and immediately after it occurred, another truck coming from behind rammed into one of the trucks forcefully. The impact made the detached head burst into flames.

Nobody could go near at that moment because the fire was very fierce. Some impatient motorists started driving against traffic to escape the gridlock caused by the incident. Several vehicles also diverted through the Berger underpass, connecting to the other side of the expressway and driving one-way towards the OPIC U-turn. A newspaper report has it that four fatalities occurred, adding that: “All were adult males, including a police officer. Two deaths occurred at the incident scene, while the other two were upon arrival at the hospital.”

Recall that on October 2nd, 21 people narrowly escaped death in a crash involving a bus and a truck along the same expressway, with eight individuals sustaining injuries due to excessive speed. Similarly, on September 18, a fatal collision occurred on the same expressway near Mountain Top University, where two lives were lost in a crash between a Hiace bus and a truck. Characteristically, many have tried to establish a connection between these bloody incidents and the usual ‘ember months’ myth.

The so-called ‘ember’ months, which refer to the last four months of the year from September to December, are regarded as tragedy-prone period. This belief is so entrenched in the consciousness of the people that various religious groups and other relevant institutions regularly organise special prayer sessions and seminars with a view to minimising ‘ember months’ havoc. The reality, however, is that the so-called ‘embers’ months are not really spiritually jinxed as many might want to swear they are. Tragedy occurs in ‘ember’ months just as it does in every other month of the year.

Ascribing needless spiritual and mythical undertones to tragic happenings during the ‘ember’ months could just be the usual Nigerian way of trivialising issues. Rather than clothing the ‘ember’ months in a garb of gratuitous mystery, the pragmatic way of explaining dreadful events during these months is more human than mythological. For instance,  preliminary reports have attributed the Kara Bridge crash to mechanical failure and reckless driving. The truth is that there is usually an increase in the tempo of public, private and corporate activities during this period.

Religious bodies are not left out of the frenzy of the season as they organise various events during the period. The ‘ember’ months are always the busiest on our roads for obvious reasons, and the tumultuous air of festivity does not really help matters. It is a period when people are in so much haste to make all the money they have not made since the beginning of the year. Hence, commercial drivers, who usually embark on five trips per day, capitalise on the aura of festivity to go for ten trips. This, naturally, comes with its fatal consequences. It is only logical that when there is a mass exodus of people from one place to the other, there is bound to be a measure of uncertainty and disorder.

In a bid to be part of the various end-of-year activities, many people throw caution to the wind by disregarding critical safety issues. Vehicles are driven irresponsibly. Alcoholic drinks are consumed with reckless abandon, while social outings are organised as if tomorrow will not come. The atmosphere, during the season, is often filled with unusual allure and jollity. It is in the midst of this hilarity that avoidable human blunders that result in diverse kinds of misfortunes usually occur. Hence, it is imperative for everyone to, first and foremost, have a changed perception of the ‘ember’ months. Conscious efforts must be made to disrobe the months of every garb of unfounded mysticism. It is only when we are convinced that the dangers associated with the months are human rather than mythical that we can really make considerable progress in averting disasters during the months.

Therefore, enforcement of existing laws and attitudinal change are central to making any progress. As we march towards the end of the year, we must modify our views on the ‘ember’ months. We must not get involved in any pointless, extraordinary end-of-the-year ‘rush’, which could endanger our lives and indeed, those of others. Those who have to organise social events to correspond with this period should do so bearing all safety precautions in mind. Commercial drivers and other road users must respect the sanctity of human life by observing required road safety measures.

Perhaps, more importantly, relevant government agencies must step up enlightenment campaigns as well as enforcement strategies to guarantee that ‘ember months’ crashes and other related tragedies are reduced to the barest minimum. In this respect, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, the Lagos State Driver’s Institute, LASDRI, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, should be commended for their various ‘ember months’ safety strategies, in Lagos and adjoining States.

However, there is a need for them to intensify efforts in this direction, while more appropriate government agencies should also come on board the ‘ember’ months’ re-orientation and re-awareness project. Presently, the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy is embarking on an ‘ember months’ responsiveness campaign across the State. The objective is to change the attitude of the people towards these months and offer key safety tips.

As it has been previously affirmed, it is critical to re-affirm that tragic happenings during ‘ember’ months are promoted by reckless human actions. It is only in living modestly and responsibly that we can avoid the dangers and hiccups that are generally associated with the ember months. If only we could rid ourselves of our usual ‘ember months’ excesses, we would discover that nothing is actually wrong with the months.

*Ogunbiyi is Director, Public Enlightenment and Community Relations, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

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