By Kenneth Jukpor
Barely two weeks after an unnamed truck driver was found dead in his truck while moving an empty container at Tin Can Second Gate; another tragedy has struck as a truck driver, Mr. Olaegbe Joshua died this morning after dropping an empty container at Tin Can Island Port yesterday.
The deceased was found dead in an empty container during the wee hours today opposite Tin Can 1st Gate, and he was alleged to have taken drugs to quell an illness yesterday.
According to the owner of the truck, Mr. Idowu Abiodun, Olaegbe had been a truck driver for over twenty-five years and he actually tutored Mr. Idowu in the trucking business.
Idowu, who is a registered member of the National Union of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) Ogbomosho division in Oyo state, revealed that the deceased had complained about an illness and had taken drugs the previous day for the alleged fever after spending several days on the road.
Idowu told MMS Plus that the deceased called his wife to complain about his health at noon yesterday, assuring the family that he would return home to take treatment.
“The man called his wife yesterday about the sickness. Nobody believed he would die as he was seen by colleagues at Tin Can Port. His body has been buried at his residence in Ogbomosho because the family wanted it that way” he told our correspondent.
Speaking to MMS Plus newspaper on the incident, the Vice Chairman of NARTO at Tin Can 2, Mr. Wale Adeoye described the deceased as a distinguished responsible fellow.
“This man has been in this business for many years. Everybody knows him as a responsible man. He mentored the owner of his truck several years ago as his motor-boy (assistant). The reason he hasn’t bought a truck is because he is more focused about giving his children a better life. He has three graduates and he just completed his building in Lagos less than two months ago.”
“It is unfortunate that at a time this man should be enjoying the reward of his efforts, he has died from the stress of driving in Lagos traffic congestion” he said.
The body of the deceased was transported to his home in Ogbomosho, Oyo State by noon today and the burial was done swiftly.
He drove a Mack truck with plate number ‘XA596-BUG’ registered in Zamfara state.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Vice Chairman, Dry Cargo Section of National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Abdullahi Inuwa Mohammed has pleaded with the Federal Government to ease the burden of truck drivers by resolving the traffic chaos.
“These recent deaths of truck drivers are as a result of the stress in this business. It is unfortunate that we continue to lose drivers. The government, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), shipping companies and the entire maritime community should collaborate to ease the burden on truck drivers”, he said.
