The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged truck and transport owners across Nigeria to prioritise periodic fleet renewal and routine vehicle maintenance. The warning follows a tragic lone crash that killed twelve people at Samawa Village, Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano State, along the Zaria–Kano Highway, in the early hours of Friday, August 15, 2025.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the accident involved a DAF trailer with registration number KMC 931 ZE loaded with goods (Ajinomoto spices) and passengers. Preliminary investigation revealed that a mechanical fault occurred when the trailer’s cab hook broke, causing the cab to detach from the trailer body, leading to loss of control.
In a statement signed by FRSC Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, nineteen people were involved in the crash. Twelve victims died on the spot, five sustained injuries, while two escaped unhurt. The corpses have been deposited at Nasarawa Hospital Mortuary, and the injured are receiving treatment at Kura General Hospital.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, described the incident as avoidable. He called on transport operators to phase out old, unsafe vehicles and stop the dangerous practice of carrying goods, animals, and passengers in the same truck. He warned that stricter sanctions would be enforced for such violations.
While commiserating with the bereaved families, Mohammed reaffirmed the FRSC’s commitment to clamp down on speed violations, overloading, and poor vehicle maintenance, especially among truck operators. He stressed that many road deaths in Nigeria are preventable if haulage companies adopt modern fleet management practices and comply with safety standards.
The FRSC emphasised that road safety is a shared responsibility and urged all stakeholders to work together to eliminate avoidable accidents on Nigerian highways.
