Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Sunday expresses sadness over the death of 17 students in an auto crash on their way back to the state from Kano, describing the incident as one that could have been prevented.
In a statement on Sunday by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, AbdulRazaq commiserated with the parents and families of the students and prayed to God to avert such calamity in the future.
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“We, however, believe that we can avoid this calamity in the future. We reiterate our calls on the drivers to always check their speed, respect other road users, and put their vehicles in the best condition.
“Most accidents occur because our drivers often fail these three basic tests of safe driving,” the statement said.
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The accident that claimed the lives of the students involved an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus and an articulated DAF trunk carrying a container.
According to head of operations, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kwara Command, Udeme Eshiet, the DAF container truck was going towards Jebba in the Kwara North District while the bus was coming to Ilorin, the state capital.
The FRSC official told NAN that the crash occurred at a sharp bend, as a result of speeding, which led to head-on collision by the two vehicles.
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“We call on our tertiary institutions which still require students to travel long distance for their post-UTME examination to please consider holding such test online to avert the necessity of travel.
“This will not only reduce travel and attendant risks but also encourage students to embrace and excel in computer literacy, a sine qua non for success in the 21st century,” the governor concluded.
