Daniel Otera
The recent accidents involving Dangote Cement trucks in Auchi, Edo State, have thrust Nigeria’s persistent road safety challenges into the spotlight.
The tragic incident on August 12, 2025, in which Ruth Otabor, a recent graduate of Auchi Polytechnic, was struck by a Dangote truck, and the fatal crash on August 17, 2025, which killed three people, have sparked outrage across the country.
The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has called for a nationwide protest on August 20, 2025, demanding reform. This movement reflects not just the immediate tragedy, but also the unchecked operations of heavy-duty vehicles, lax regulatory enforcement, and corporate negligence in Nigeria’s transport sector.
Ruth Otabor, a fresh Higher National Diploma (HND) graduate, was struck by a Dangote Cement truck on August 12, 2025, near Auchi Polytechnic. The accident resulted in the amputation of one leg and the potential loss of the other.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the truck driver, allegedly underage and unlicensed, fled the scene but was later apprehended after a chase led by a lecturer. The incident, widely reported by Sahara Reporters, ignited public anger, especially after Ruth’s sister, Ijeoma “Phyna” Otabor, a Big Brother Naija star, accused authorities of attempting to obscure the truck’s identity.
On Instagram, Phyna shared, “They told the police to remove the plate number on the truck that crushed my sister,” amplifying the call for justice under the hashtag #JusticeForRuth.
Just five days later, on August 17, another Dangote truck, reportedly suffering from brake failure, crashed along the Benin–Okene Expressway, killing three occupants of a Mercedes-Benz GLK and leaving one survivor in critical condition. NewsOnline Nigeria reported that the truck collided with a BUA truck and caught fire, compounding the tragedy. Apostle Johnson Suleman, a local cleric, condemned the incident, remarking, “Your trucks are driven by boys high on drugs and untrained. This recklessness must stop.”
Road traffic accidents in Nigeria continue to pose significant challenges to public safety. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 10,026 road crashes were recorded in 2024, with a notable 12.4% of these incidents involving articulated vehicles like trucks. These vehicles, despite making up a small percentage of traffic, are responsible for a disproportionate number of accidents. In 2021, a similar tragedy occurred in Ondo State when a Dangote Cement truck lost control due to brake failure, killing eight people near Adekunle Ajasin University. Such preventable accidents highlight a growing trend in the operation of heavy-duty vehicles, especially in urban and rural areas (The Nation Online, 2021).
The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has framed its August 20 protest as a response to “the recklessness of trucks driven like instruments of death.” The statement, issued on August 18 in Kaduna by Action Committee Chairman Olasunkanmi Ijaduoye and PRO Usman Ibrahimnyass Dende, demands systemic reforms, including:
Corporate Accountability: Automatic employment for Ruth Otabor as an Assistant Director at Dangote Cement Plc, a three-bedroom apartment in Ikoyi, and lifelong medical and financial support for victims.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Construction of pedestrian bridges and speed bumps in student-heavy areas to prevent accidents.
Regulatory Overhaul: Funding for FRSC enforcement units, public disclosure of disciplinary actions against erring drivers, and mandatory safety audits.
Driver Standards: Suspension and retraining of drivers violating safety protocols, alongside stricter recruitment and monitoring processes.
“This is not just about Ruth or the injured bike rider but every Nigerian life lost on our highways,” the statement read. NAPS has also urged civil society, religious leaders, and citizens to join the protest, reflecting a growing frustration with Nigeria’s road safety framework.
In response to the August 12 accident, Dangote Cement issued a statement on August 14 confirming that senior officials and insurers had visited Ruth Otabor at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, pledging “comprehensive medical care and appropriate compensation.” However, errors in the statement, such as referring to Ruth as “Mrs.” despite her unmarried status, led to public criticism for perceived insensitivity.
Public sentiment, especially on social media platforms like X, has raised questions about the sincerity of Dangote Cement’s response. Activist Martins Otse (VeryDarkMan) argued that the company’s influence might shield it from legal accountability, asserting, “Dangote must do the right thing morally, not just legally.” Phyna also echoed this sentiment, noting that the company’s response only came after public pressure, saying, “Thank you Nigerians for making them respond.”
The Edo State Police Command confirmed that the truck driver involved in Ruth’s accident has been charged, and the case is scheduled for court proceedings on August 21, 2025.
Dangote’s plans to expand its logistics network part of a ₦720 billion investment strategy aimed at reducing logistics costs include the introduction of 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks for fuel distribution. This move, which aims to enhance logistics efficiency by eliminating intermediaries, is projected to revolutionize Nigeria’s fuel distribution network (Vanguard, 2025). However, this expansion presents new safety challenges.
A 2023 report by the FRSC found that 28% of truck-related accidents were caused by mechanical failures, especially brake issues (IIHS, 2023). The crash in Auchi on August 17, which was linked to brake failure, underscores the risks posed by inadequate vehicle maintenance.
Nigeria’s road safety crisis is exacerbated by insufficient infrastructure, poorly maintained vehicles, and undertrained drivers. In 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported 4,663 fatalities and 22,746 injuries from road crashes, with heavy-duty vehicles involved in a disproportionate number of these accidents. Moreover, the FRSC’s limited resources hinder its ability to monitor Nigeria’s vast 200,000 km road network effectively (World Bank, 2023).
Pedestrian safety, particularly around tertiary institutions, is also a growing concern. A study by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) in 2022 revealed that 65% of Nigerian tertiary institutions lack pedestrian crossings near major highways. This gap in infrastructure puts students, especially in areas like Auchi, at heightened risk (Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, 2022).
The NAPS protest marks a shift toward community-driven advocacy, where youth activism is challenging corporate accountability in unprecedented ways. Unlike past corporate accidents, which often ended with legal settlements, the Auchi incidents have ignited a grassroots movement leveraging social media and public protests. This movement calls for more than just compensation; it demands systemic change.
The wave of activism seen in Nigeria mirrors global trends, such as the youth-led protests in Kenya in 2024, which forced the government to retract a proposed $2.7 billion tax hike. Young people are increasingly taking leadership roles in pushing for economic justice and systemic change, reshaping political discourse and policy reforms. Nigeria’s youth, much like their peers globally, are stepping into leadership roles, demanding accountability from both corporations and the government.
The tragic events in Auchi, while deeply personal for the victims and their families, highlight a larger issue that demands urgent action. The road safety crisis in Nigeria can no longer be ignored. The demand for stricter enforcement, better infrastructure, and improved corporate responsibility must be addressed by the government and private sector alike.