Chioma Vivian James
Nigeria’s highways were plunged into mourning over the weekend as three separate road traffic crashes in Kogi, Ogun and Kwara states claimed no fewer than 36 lives within 24 hours, prompting the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to renew its call for strict compliance with road safety regulations.
The tragic incidents, which occurred between Sunday, July 5 and Monday, July 6, 2026, have once again highlighted the devastating consequences of speeding, dangerous driving, driver fatigue, poor vehicle maintenance and the persistent illegal practice of transporting passengers alongside goods.
Expressing deep sorrow over the losses, the Corps extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished those receiving treatment a speedy recovery.
The first fatal crash occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on Sunday along the Okene–Lokoja Road near Confluence University, Osara, Kogi State. The collision involved a MAN truck and a Toyota Sienna commercial bus carrying 10 occupants. Seven people—six men and one woman—lost their lives, while three injured male passengers were rescued and taken to Abobo General Hospital for treatment. Preliminary investigations identified a tyre burst as the immediate cause of the crash, underscoring the importance of regular vehicle maintenance.
Only hours later, another tragedy unfolded at Sapade Bridge on the Ibadan–Lagos Expressway in Ogun State. The crash, involving a SINOTRUK truck and a Toyota Hiace commercial bus, affected 18 people. Ten persons, comprising nine men and one male child, died instantly, while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were evacuated to Victory Hospital, Ogere. Two occupants escaped unhurt.
Initial findings showed that speeding, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving triggered the collision after the truck created a hazardous situation on the highway.
The deadliest of the three crashes occurred in the early hours of Monday at Oko-Olowo along the Ogbomosho–Oloru Road in Kwara State. A DAF trailer transporting passengers together with goods crashed, involving 48 male adults. Fifteen people were killed, 17 sustained injuries and 16 escaped without injuries.
Investigations indicate that driver fatigue was the immediate cause of the crash, while the heavy death toll was significantly worsened by the illegal practice of mixed loading—a dangerous violation that exposes passengers to unnecessary risks.
Reacting to the incidents, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, described the crashes as heartbreaking and entirely preventable. He lamented that repeated violations of traffic regulations continue to frustrate national efforts aimed at reducing road crashes and saving lives.
He identified excessive speed, reckless overtaking, dangerous driving, worn-out tyres, driver fatigue and mixed loading as major contributors to the persistent fatalities on Nigerian roads.
The Corps Marshal urged motorists, fleet operators and commercial transport companies to prioritise safety by ensuring that only roadworthy vehicles are used, tyres are regularly inspected and replaced when necessary, speed limits are obeyed and drivers are adequately rested before embarking on long journeys.
He also reiterated the Corps’ zero tolerance for mixed loading, stressing that passengers should never be transported alongside goods under any circumstances.
According to him, the FRSC will continue to intensify nationwide enforcement operations, public enlightenment campaigns and emergency rescue services to reduce avoidable road crashes and safeguard lives.
The latest tragedies serve as another painful reminder that road crashes are not inevitable. They are largely preventable when motorists obey traffic regulations, maintain their vehicles and make responsible decisions behind the wheel.
As the nation mourns the 36 lives lost in just one day, the FRSC has again appealed to every road user to embrace safety as a shared responsibility, warning that every avoidable violation on the highway carries the potential for irreversible consequences.
