Zamfara state governor Bello Matawalle is canvassing death penalty for reckless driving after a truck crashed into three vehicles, killing 16 people instantly.
Fifteen out of the 16 killed in the crash on Funtua-Gusau road last Wednesday were from Gusau.
Matawalle led members of his cabinet and the management of BUA Group, whose driver was involved in the crash, on a condolence visit on the Emir of Gusau, Ibrahim Bello, over the death of the 15 from Gusau.
He said reckless drivers should be compelled to pay compensation on every life lost.
He announced a donation of N2 million to families of each of the deceased who was married, and N1.5 million to families of those unmarried.
He also announced 15 next-of-kins of the deceased would be placed on a monthly allowance of N50,000 each on the state payroll till the end of his tenure.
He said his administration would introduce speed limit gauge on highways as well as weight measurement on trucks and drug tests on drivers in order to guard against rough and reckless driving which usually end up on fatalities.
Matawalle noted that the measures had become necessary so that drivers and their families would no longer think they would have it easy if they kill anyone adding that the lives of the citizens of the state are more valuable than any other thing.
He urged management of BUA company to call their drivers to order and caution them on acceptable speed limit.
Earlier, the team leader from BUA, Aminu Suleiman, said they were in the state to condole with the government, Gusau emirate, people of the state and the immediate families of those who were killed in the crash involving the company’s driver.