Nine Dead as Heavy-Duty Trucks Wreak Havoc in Niger and Lagos

LAGOS — A dark Monday on Nigerian highways has claimed nine lives following two separate, devastating heavy-duty truck accidents. In Niger State, five travelers died instantly, while four others, including a traffic officer, perished in Lagos. The accidents left over twenty people with severe injuries, who are currently receiving emergency care at various government hospitals. Consequently, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has issued a fresh warning regarding the state of haulage vehicles. While both incidents involved trucks, the underlying causes range from mechanical failure to infrastructure decay. This double tragedy has intensified public demands for more rigorous enforcement of safety standards for interstate commercial vehicles.

The Niger State disaster occurred at Nami village in Agaie Local Government Area during the early morning hours. A DAF trailer, transporting 600 bags of soybeans and 27 male passengers, was traveling from Kano. Eyewitnesses reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle due to the deplorable condition of the road. Furthermore, the truck veered sharply off the highway before crashing, killing five passengers and injuring twenty others. In a related development, the FRSC Sector Commander, Aishat Sa’ad, confirmed that the crash occurred around 7:20 a.m. Indeed, responders have already evacuated the survivors to the General Hospital in Lapai for urgent medical stabilization.

Also, the Lagos incident involved a truck suffering total brake failure while heading toward the Seme land border. The driver reportedly blared his horn repeatedly to signal danger before ramming into the Badagry roundabout fence. Similarly, the out-of-control vehicle crushed a commercial motorcyclist, his two passengers, and a traffic officer on duty. Granted, the driver attempted to slow the vehicle by hitting the fence, but the impact remained lethal. Notably, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has yet to issue a formal statement regarding their fallen officer. Above all, residents are calling for a permanent ban on old, poorly maintained trucks from major metropolitan intersections.

Significantly, the Lapai–Agaie route has gained notoriety as a “death trap” due to its numerous deep potholes. Motorists have pleaded with the Ministry of Works to prioritize the rehabilitation of this vital economic corridor. Although the Lagos wreckage was eventually cleared, the resulting gridlock paralyzed movement along the Badagry-Seme axis for hours.  As a result of this carnage, several civil society groups are planning a protest against deteriorating road infrastructure. Accordingly, the quest for safer Nigerian roads depends on the urgent repair of highways and stricter vehicular inspections.