LAGOS, Nigeria — Four passengers, including a couple, sustained varying degrees of injuries on Sunday after a commercial bus crashed into a streetlight at Alausa, Ikeja, in Lagos State.
The accident, which occurred in the afternoon, has been attributed to drunk driving, according to officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the commercial bus, bearing registration number KTU 69 YJ and painted in the characteristic yellow and black of Lagos transport vehicles, veered off course before violently colliding with a streetlight on the road median.
“He was clearly drunk,” said one witness who identified himself as Femi, a roadside vendor. “He was swerving erratically even before he hit the pole. People were shouting, but it was too late.”
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed in a statement that preliminary investigations supported eyewitness claims that the driver was heavily under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
“The ferocity of the impact triggered widespread alarm and resulted in significant injuries to several passengers, notably a couple seated in the middle row,” Bakare-Oki stated.
He commended the prompt intervention of LASTMA personnel stationed nearby, who swiftly swung into action to rescue trapped passengers.
A total of four victims—including the couple, a male, and a female passenger—were extricated from the wreckage. They received immediate first aid at the scene before being handed over to the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).
The injured were later transported to the Trauma and Emergency Centre located at the Toll Gate area for more comprehensive medical treatment. Hospital sources confirmed that while the injuries were serious, all four victims were stabilized and are expected to recover.
Other passengers on board the bus were reportedly unharmed, escaping with only minor bruises or no injuries at all.
The incident has reignited concerns about the persistent dangers of driving under the influence in Nigeria’s commercial capital. Bakare-Oki did not mince words in condemning the incident, labeling it as a reckless act of endangerment.
“This crash could have been avoided. Alcohol and driving are a deadly mix. It is unacceptable that lives continue to be jeopardized because of irresponsible behavior behind the wheel,” he said.
He highlighted LASTMA’s ongoing road safety campaign under its “Don’t Drink and Drive” initiative, which sees officials engage with commercial drivers across motor parks in Lagos to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.
“Our Monitoring and Surveillance Unit is working tirelessly to educate and enforce safer driving practices. We will continue to crack down on violators to make Lagos roads safer for everyone,” Bakare-Oki affirmed.
As investigations continue, the fate of the bus driver remains unclear. However, authorities have indicated that legal action will follow as part of efforts to deter similar incidents in the future.
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