At least 40 dead in road accident in Nigeria

By Michael Logan

Nairobi/Lagos (dpa) – At least 40 people have died in a flaming

multi-car pile-up near the Nigerian city of Lagos, reports said

Monday.

   The Nigerian Tribune, quoting witnesses, said an articulated lorry

smashed into a queue of vehicles waiting to navigate a police

checkpoint on Sunday.

   At least 15 vehicles were engulfed in flames – including two

minibuses, in which the majority of the people died.

   Road accidents are common in Africa’s most-populous country as

vehicles in poor mechanical condition jostle for position on the

often busy roads.