16 killed as truck crushes bus on dilapidated Calabar-Itu Highway

A horrific accident claimed sixteen lives today when a forty-foot container truck veered off its lane and collapsed onto a sixteen-seater bus along the Calabar-Itu highway, Southern Nigeria.

Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the crash resulted from the road’s terrible condition, which has been neglected for years despite repeated accidents.

Rescue teams recovered all sixteen bodies from the wreckage and transported them to the mortuary.

No survivors have been reported as emergency workers continue their search.

The bus, carrying passengers believed to be traders, was completely crushed under the weight of the overturned container.

The Troubled History of Calabar-Itu Highway

The Calabar-Itu highway, stretching approximately 100 kilometers between Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, has become a tragic symbol of Nigeria’s infrastructural neglect.

What was once a vital economic artery connecting commercial hubs in southern Nigeria has deteriorated into one of the country’s most dangerous roads, claiming countless lives through preventable accidents.

Constructed during the 1970s oil boom, the highway initially served as a bustling trade route for agricultural goods and petroleum products.

However, by the 1990s, the lack of maintenance became apparent as the road began collapsing under heavy use and seasonal rains.

The asphalt wore thin, potholes multiplied, and entire sections turned into impassable quagmires during rainy seasons.

Despite its strategic importance, the highway suffered decades of government neglect.

The Goodluck Jonathan administration awarded repair contracts in 2013 that never saw proper completion.

The Buhari government re-awarded the contract in 2018, but only sporadic patches were completed.

In 2021, another round of reconstruction promises were made, yet today over 80 percent of the road remains in dangerous disrepair.

The consequences have been devastating. Frequent fatal accidents have become routine, with today’s container truck tragedy being just the latest in a long series.

The road’s condition has severely impacted local economies, forcing transporters to take longer alternative routes that drive up costs for basic goods.

During rainy seasons, entire communities become cut off as sections of the highway flood completely.

Political leaders have consistently failed to address the crisis.

Today, the Calabar-Itu highway stands as a glaring example of institutional failure.

Despite being a federal road crucial to regional commerce, it continues to deteriorate while government after government avoids meaningful action.

For the people who must risk their lives daily on this death trap, promises are no longer enough – they need concrete solutions before more lives are lost.

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