Truck accidents have claimed 842 lives and left 922 others injured across Nigeria in the past two years, a Weekend Trust investigation has revealed.
From 2024 to September 2025, at least 1,764 people were involved in crashes linked to heavy-duty trucks in 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The figures underline the growing danger of poorly maintained trucks, reckless driving, and weak road safety enforcement.
Victims’ ordeal
One of the most tragic incidents occurred in August 2025 when Ruth Otabor, a recent graduate of Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State and younger sister of Big Brother Naija star Phyna, was hit by a Dangote truck near her school gate.
She lost a leg in the crash but later died from complications despite public calls for urgent treatment abroad.
Her death drew outrage on social media, with her sister Phyna demanding accountability from authorities and the company involved.
In Niger State, Ndayawo Majin, a veterinary officer, lost a leg and an eye after a trailer knocked him down in Agaie town.
“Since that day, my life has not been the same again,” he told reporters.
In Kano, survivor Yunusa Yusuf Imawa escaped a crash that killed four of his staff members after a truck lost its brakes and rammed into worshippers after Friday prayers.
Other survivors, like 29-year-old event coordinator Arigbabu Samuel, described near-death experiences in Lagos after buses collided with moving trucks.
“It was a supernatural jump that saved me,” Samuel recalled.
Grim statistics
Data shows that in 2024 alone, 506 people died and 540 were injured in 204 truck accidents.
Niger State recorded the highest death toll with 78 fatalities, while Kano had the most injuries at 127.
In 2025, up to 718 people were affected in truck-related crashes, with 336 deaths and 382 injuries already recorded before year’s end.
High-risk highways included the Kano–Maiduguri road, Lambatta–Lapai road in Niger State, and the Lokoja–Obajana corridor in Kogi State.
Why truck accidents keep rising
Road safety experts point to multiple causes:
Over-speeding and reckless overtaking
Drug abuse among drivers
Poor road conditions
Mixed loading of goods and passengers in trailers
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says many drivers illegally load passengers alongside goods to make quick money, often with truck owners unaware.
Former Niger State FRSC commander Kumar Tsukwam revealed that over 4,000 passengers were removed from unsafe trucks during his tenure.
Truck drivers themselves admit the crisis. Bello Yahaya, secretary of a drivers’ association in Minna, blamed government neglect.
“If the roads are fixed and traffic officials do their work, accidents will reduce,” he said. He also called for tollgates, speed breakers, and stricter drug testing for drivers.
As truck crashes continue to claim lives nationwide, victims’ families and safety experts are urging the government to take firm action before more Nigerians are lost to preventable accidents.