By Amindeh Blaise
Atabong
That Minister Nkili’s Bafia
dance-type decision to check road accidents
US leading author, political theorist,
politician, civic activist, statesman, diplomat and many more, Benjamin Franklin tells us that “a little neglect may breed great mischief”.
And it came to past that on October 18, 2014, a truck
on a test drive by a mechanic ran into a nearby shop in the Biyem Assi
neighbourhood in Yaounde. Several were students who died on the spot in
excruciating pains while others obtained serious injuries and had some of their
body parts amputated.
The death toll, though
conflicting, rose up to not less than 17. It is even said that it was the
second time the ‘off-the-road’ truck was running into people and buildings.
About the same time two
months ago, three lives were lost on the Yoke Bridge along the Kumba-Buea
highway. The accident did not just claimed lives and inflicted injuries on
victims but hampered traffic flow for over three hours.
Thereafter, there were spates of accidents across the national
territory. The accidents which occurred in almost quick succession claimed
lives as usual at a frightening rate.
I heard of the Yaounde-Akonolinga road accident in which seven people could not cheat death. I equally have in mind the awful “Falaise” accident around Dschang with ominous consequences.
I heard of the Yaounde-Akonolinga road accident in which seven people could not cheat death. I equally have in mind the awful “Falaise” accident around Dschang with ominous consequences.
As if not enough, last
September 30, a trailer transporting a 20-feetcontainer lost control in Ndokoti
in Douala due to brake system failure. The accident which occurred at rush hour
could only result to a bloodbath. It is even sad to note that similar massacres
happened in the same vicinity in 2009 and 2011.
Recently too, three lives perished in the Mvan
neighbourhood in Yaounde, resulting from a crash between a military truck and a
cab. These
accidents, be it minor or grave, happen almost every day in our towns, cities
and highways.
According to a World Life
Expectancy statistics of 2011, Cameroon occupied the 24th position
in road traffic accident in the world. Approximately 32.6 per 100 000 are
said to have died due to road accidents.
The above disturbing
figures, plus other national road accident statistics carried out by
trustworthy organisations leave many indifferent that road transport officials
in Cameroon are joking.
The authorities of the
ministry of transport as well as the forces of law and order can be blamed for
gross negligence as John Oxford asserts: “We
would be guilty of negligence if we just sat on our hands and waited.”
And behold, the
minister of transport, Robert Nkili even confirmed to reporters that he only
got news of the tragic Biyem Assi incident the following day because he was
attending the funeral of President Biya’s
mother-in-law in Mvomeka’a.
It is obviously none of
my business if Minister Nkili cried in Mvomeka’a in a bid to protect his juicy
position but what bothers me is that the transport boss hastily signed an order
reiterating the prohibition of circulation for heavy duty trucks in city
centres between 6a.m and 9p.m.
In what can be best described as
a Bafia dance wherein dancers unceasingly gesticulate forward and backward,
Nkili again went back to his very own decision to exempt certain categories of
‘killer’ trucks even before his initial decision could be taken with a pinch of
salt.
Both decisions, just like similar
ones before 1980, are just as ineffective as any other decisive ministerial
decision in this country. Heavy duty trucks loaded with sand, cement, iron
rods, timber, and so on can still be seen circulating unperturbed within the
city centres.
What was the minister even thinking before taking this decision? Did he
forget that the Douala port works 24/24 and serves other countries in the CEMAC
sub-region? How can Minister Nkili easily forget that heavy duty trucks have to
transport ‘slow poison’ during the day to quell flaring tampers that are
frustrated with the regime?
Anyway, Minister Nkili should know that he was taking the second step
before the first. Even if he threatens to stop circulation of trucks for 18
hours a day, that will not solve the problem of frequent road accidents.
The minister should tell his boys not to issue driving licenses to
incompetent and reckless drivers after receiving phone calls or bribes. Nkili
must also ensure that road worthiness certificates are issued only to vehicles
that are technically fit and those that are a time bomb should be immediately
put off the road or even confiscated for recycling.
Truck drivers on their part must shun alcohol, get enough rest and be
absolutely prudent while on the steer wheel. The police, gendarmes, toll gate
officers and other road safety agents must depart from unpatriotic doings. They
must ensure vehicles, especially truck drivers respect road signs, speed
limits, weight limits and other aspect that can cause untold damage.
Only by so doing can we start thinking of a reduction in the number of
road accidents. God be our helper!
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