Yemisi Izuora
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA came to the rescue of about 40 stranded international travelers from Togo heading to Abia State, Nigeria whose bus broke down due to mechanical fault at the Long bridge exting Lagos along Lagos-Ibadan express way.
The travellers who informed the Agency’s officials who are on special operations to ensure free flow of traffic and monitor traffic free yuletode that the bus got faulty.
The Agency had to mandate the owner of the bus to provide necessary meals and drinks for the stranded passengers.
Temporary shelter was provided for the women and children while the men were assisting with the repairs of the bus.
The bus driver and escort initially claimed to be going for crusade because of the banner on the bus had to recount when NEMA raised issue of on wether they are traffickers.
It was then the driver confirmed that the bus had made three trips from Togo to Abia and the people confirmed that they are Nigerians and passengers going home to celebrate Xmas.
In another location, a family was saved when the Lexus SUV jeep caught fire and were helped from the whole vehicle going down in flame.
The family were heading to Benin in Edo State.
They were help to a mechanic workshop for possible repairs and they hope to continue their journey.
Earlier in the today, NEMA and FRSC had appealed to travellers to make use of alternative routes exting Lagos instead of Lagos – Ibadan Expressway due to a gasoline tanker carrying petroleum motor spirit (PMS) tjat crashed at Mowe and caused serious gridlock that got to Long bridge.
NEMA, appealed travellers to be cautious of the weather in view of the harmattan haze that could impair visibility.
