HORROR TREND: How Container Falls Killed 22 Lagos Residents, Injured 17 in Five Years

Lagos residents saw a familiar sight when a 20-foot container fell on two unsuspecting dispatch riders and crushed them to death on Eko Bridge inward Alaka on Sunday.

According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the deadly fall occurred during a collision involving two fully loaded Mack trucks.

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LASTMA, which said over-speeding was the primary cause of the accident, revealed that the driver of one of the two trucks lost control of his vehicle after allegedly dozing off.

“The truck [with the dozing driver] careened into another moving truck ahead of it, triggering a violent impact,” the agency said.

“This collision led to the dislodgement of a 20-foot container from one of the trucks, which subsequently crushed two unsuspecting dispatch riders who were navigating the route at the time.”

LASTMA officers rescued a severely injured truck driver, while two other truck drivers fled the scene, likely out of fear of the consequences. The Lagos traffic management agency said an investigation is ongoing to track and apprehend them.

This incident is only the latest in a string of container falls that have led to the deaths and injuries of dozens of Lagos residents over the last five years.

A 20ft container fell on a commercial bus, killing nine people on Ojuelegba Bridge, Lagos, in January 2023

In 2025 alone, there have now been at least three container fall accidents that resulted in severe injuries and fatalities.

To paint a stark picture of the horror trend of deadly container falls in Lagos, EKO HOT BLOG compiled at least 23 reported incidents in the last five years, which have led to at least 22 deaths and dozens of injuries.

Key Incidents (July 24 2020 – May 11, 2025)

February 1, 2020 (Ogudu): A 40ft container-laden truck fell, killing one adult female and injuring two adult males.
Cause: High speed.

July 26, 2020 (Ilasamaja, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway): A 20ft container fell on a commercial bus, killing three people (Chidinma Ajoku, Nnaekpe Victor, Daniel Okwuoge). Three others were injured.
Cause: Unlatched container, no roadworthiness certificate.

August 22, 2020 (Odo Olowu, Ijesha): An empty 40ft container fell due to brake failure, killing two adult females. The truck driver was injured.

May 13, 2022 (Costain Roundabout): A 40ft container fell, killing one adult male pedestrian and injuring an adult female (broken leg).

December 22, 2022 (Cele, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway): A truck conveying twin 20ft containers lost control and dropped the containers on three vehicles — a Volkswagen bus, a Highlander SUV, and a Toyota RAV4 — killing the bus driver and injuring four passengers.
Cause: Brake failure at top speed.

January 29, 2023 (Ojuelegba Bridge): A 20ft container fell on a commercial bus, killing nine people (four males, three females, one boy, one girl). There was one survivor.
Cause: Truck lost control on bridge.

January 30, 2023 (Sawmill, Dopemu): Just a day after a container fall crushed nine to death on Ojuelegba Bridge, a Lagos motorist captured another container falling around Sawmill, Dopemu. Thankfully, there were no casualties.

January 30, 2023 (Kara Bridge): The same day, a tragedy was averted on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after an articulated truck conveying a 40ft container fell. The driver reportedly lost control, causing the truck to overturn and the container to fall on the road. No casualty.

February 1, 2023 (Oshodi): A Mack containerised truck carrying a 40ft container fell beside a TATA bus in the ever-busy Oshodi area of Lagos State. The passengers on the bus escaped unhurt.

February 24, 2023 (Ojuelegba Bridge): A container and the truck conveying it fell on the Ojuelegba Bridge, less than a month after a similar fall crushed nine bus passengers to death. This time, there was no casualty.

March 10, 2023 (Ikeja Underbridge, Mile 12, Ketu, Ojuelegba, Ago Palace Way): At least five 40ft containers fell in different areas of Lagos on the same day, but there were no casualties.

March 11, 2023 (Iyana Era): Two loaded 20ft containers fell on the road at Iyana Era inward Okoko, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. No casualty.

September 8, 2023 (Wharf Road): A motor boy was trapped under a fully loaded 40ft container after it fell. While he was rescued, the driver of the truck died instantly around Wharf Road, opposite Area B Police Command, outward Apapa.

September 24, 2023 (Ojuelegba Bridge): A 40ft container fell on a Toyota Corolla, trapping three passengers. All were rescued and hospitalised. No fatalities.

April 12, 2024 (Ogudu): A 40ft container fell on a Nissan car, killing a woman. The driver survived unharmed.
Cause: Brake failure.

November 25, 2024 (Mile 2): A 40ft container fell on a Toyota Camry, but the driver escaped unharmed.
Cause: Unspecified.

January 24, 2025 (Toyota Bus Stop, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway): A 20ft container fell on a Lexus Jeep, but the couple inside (male, 45; female, 37) were rescued unharmed.
Cause: Accidental fall during motion.

April 5, 2025 (Lagos Expressway): A truck carrying two 40ft containers suffered brake failure, causing the containers to fall on multiple vehicles, killing one pedestrian and injuring five others (including a bus driver with compound fractures).

May 11, 2025 (Eko Bridge inward Alaka): A 20ft container fell during a collision between two fully loaded Mack trucks, killing two dispatch riders (vehicles: T-10357 LA, KJA 107 XM).
Cause: Over-speeding, with one truck driver reportedly dozing off, leading to loss of control and violent impact.

Lagos Government’s Response

These 23 reported incidents highlight a troubling trend of near-misses and deadly falls in just five years. The three incidents already recorded in 2025 suggest that container falls remain a persistent problem for Lagos residents, as the state government struggles to enforce safety directives.

After a container fall led to the deaths of nine people on the Ojuelegba Bridge in January 2023, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed the Lagos Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to urgently meet and find a lasting solution to the menace of falling trucks.

He also called for stricter enforcement of the laws governing the operations of trucks.

“All the laws governing the operations of trucks and related vehicles must be enforced with more vigour and diligence,” Sanwo-Olu said at the time.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has made various directives to limit the persistent container falls but lax enforcements have minimised results

However, the incidents have continued unabated, with trucks routinely flouting directives, including the ban on plying major roads from 6am to 9pm.

Following a flurry of container falls between January 29 and February 1, 2023, a LASTMA official lamented that most trucks fail to meet basic safety standards, such as properly latching containers. He added that truckers have no business loading containers without securing mechanisms.

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All things considered, the carelessness of truck operators and lax enforcement of laws by the state government have created a deadly spiral for unsuspecting road users.

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