The recurring nature of truck-related accidents may renew public calls for urgent government intervention as major multi-vehicle collision occurred at Ugwu Onyeama along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway by Ngwo leading to damage of significant number of vehicles, including a 30-ton chemical-laden trailer, a 33,000-litre PMS tanker, a 911 water truck and a 10-ton truck. It also involved three passenger vehicles: an 18-seater Okeson Motors bus, a Prado Jeep, and a Toyota Highlander. The sheer volume and size of the affected vehicles resulted in a complete blockage of the main carriageway, severely disrupting traffic flow.
The accident, which occurred around 10:00 AM on Thursday, 13th November 2025, prompted a swift and coordinated response from emergency stakeholders. In a rapid display of inter-agency cooperation, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Enugu Operations Office immediately mobilized a joint response team. Personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigerian Army quickly secured the scene. Their decisive action involved cordoning off the affected lane and redirecting motorists onto the highly dilapidated side of the road, a measure essential for scene management and preventing further incidents.
The accident is said to be connected to a chain reaction caused by a heavy-duty truck, underscoring the persistent hazard posed by commercial vehicles on Nigerian highways. Preliminary reports indicate the accident was triggered when the fully loaded 30-ton truck, which was transporting chemicals from Edo State to Port Harcourt, suffered a catastrophic brake failure. Unable to slow down or stop, the truck careened into the vehicles ahead, setting off a massive pile-up. Given the presence of a fuel tanker and hazardous chemicals, the potential for a secondary disaster, such as a fire or explosion, was extremely high.
Despite the severity of the chain collision and the number of vehicles involved, no fatalities were recorded according to NEMA in a statement, though only two individuals sustained minor injuries and were immediately transported to Colliery Hospital in Ngwo for prompt treatment.
Recall that a US-based policy expert, Abayomi Oladapo, over a month ago, publicly urged the National Assembly to enact stricter policies, specifically demanding the creation of a National Truck Safety Fund funded by the transport industry, to finance road maintenance and driver training. The expert also called for a Corporate Truck Safety and Accountability Bill to mandate the installation of essential safety technology like GPS and speed limiters and place direct liability on transport companies for poor vehicle maintenance.
