Residents of Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, and state authorities have expressed worry about the increasing number of road accidents and overloading on the Kano-Damaturu-Maiduguri highway.
Local residents attribute the issue to drivers neglecting safety and authorities imposing lenient penalties on those who violate traffic rules.
Khalid Ibrahim, a human rights activist, emphasized the importance of responsible agencies like the Federal Road Safety Corps carrying out their duties effectively to address the problem.
Ibrahim pointed out that drivers play a significant role, as they often disregard the rules and regulations set by authorities, despite undergoing training in driving schools.
He suggested that stricter enforcement by relevant agencies could help minimize the problem.
In contrast, motorists and drivers argue that overloading is a necessity due to the high cost of living and the government’s removal of subsidies.
They claim that, on the Kano-Damaturu-Maiduguri route, they face fees ranging from N500 to N1000 at each checkpoint.
Aminu Ahmed, a commercial driver, explained that economic hardships force them to take on overload.
He mentioned that failure to provide something for security personnel at various points along the route results in unfavorable consequences, prompting them to overload to recover lost profits.
Kabiru Mustapha, another driver, attributed the practice to the high cost of fuel. He argued that, in the absence of reasonable profits, drivers resort to overloading to find alternative sources of income.
Mustapha appealed to the government to subsidize petroleum prices to alleviate their financial challenges.
The Executive Secretary of Yobe State Emergency Medical Ambulance Services, Mallam Abdullahi Danshuwa, highlighted the alarming frequency of accidents caused by overloading on the Kano-Damaturu-Maiduguri highway.
He revealed that the agency records accidents more than 10 times a week, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
According to statistics from the Federal Road Safety Corps, between January 1 and June 2023, over 4,000 lives were lost nationwide due to road accidents.
This averages to 731 fatalities per month, with 24 lives lost daily across the country. The data underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address road safety concerns and prevent further loss of lives.
