Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Sunday commiserated with the families and friends of 17 Indigenes of the state who died in a motor accident while returning from Kano after their Post-UTME screening.
The accident occurred at about 12.35 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22 at Bacita junction in Kwara.
The 17 students lost their lives when the Toyota Haice bus with registration number AGL337 XA, conveying them back to Kwara had a head-on collision with a DAF Articulated Truck.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor lamented the death of the young students, describing the accident that took their lives as “a painful one that could have been prevented.”
He, condoled with the parents and families of the students and prayed to God to avert such calamity in future.
The statement read in part: “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.
“Besides, 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 travelling.
“This will not only reduce traveling and attendant risks, but also encourage students to embrace and excel in computer literacy, a sine qua non for success in the 21st century.”