House of Reps Calls for Night-Only Operations for Trucks in Lokoja to Curb Frequent Accidents
The House of Representatives has proposed restricting the movement of trailers and trucks in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, to night-time operations between 10 PM and 6 AM in a bid to improve road safety and ease traffic congestion.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works and the Federal Emergency Road Management Agency (FERMA), to fast-track the expansion of roads in Lokoja and construct a flyover alongside pedestrian bridges to enhance traffic flow and protect pedestrians.
The resolutions were reached following the adoption of a motion titled “The Need to Intervene on the Constant Accidents on the Lokoja/Felele Expressway” moved by Hon. Danladi Suleiman Aguye during plenary.
Lokoja’s Strategic Location and Rising Road Accidents
While presenting his motion, Hon. Aguye emphasized Lokoja’s strategic importance as a transit hub that connects over ten states across Nigeria’s northern, eastern, southern, and western regions. The lawmaker noted that hundreds of vehicles ply the Lokoja-Felele road daily, increasing the risk of road crashes.
He commended the Kogi State Government, led by Governor Usman Ododo, for relocating the international market that was previously situated along the expressway as part of efforts to decongest the road and prevent further accidents.
However, he expressed deep concern over the rising cases of accidents in Lokoja, particularly in 2025, where more than ten fatal crashes have already been recorded, leading to multiple deaths and injuries.
Recent Fatal Accident Involving Lokoja Students
Hon. Aguye highlighted a particularly tragic accident that occurred on February 17, 2025, when an articulated truck carrying timber rammed into a shuttle bus conveying students of the Federal University Lokoja. The crash resulted in the loss of ten students and their driver.
He further lamented that many students of Kogi State Polytechnic, as well as residents of Lokoja and Felele, have lost their lives in similar road mishaps.
Call for Urgent Government Intervention
The House of Representatives expressed serious concern that reckless driving by truck and tanker drivers remains a major cause of the recurring road fatalities in Lokoja.
“If nothing is done to address this alarming situation, innocent lives will continue to be lost on a large scale,” Aguye warned.
The House, therefore, stressed the urgent need for the construction of a by-pass, expansion of the Lokoja-Felele expressway, and the development of a flyover to ease congestion and reduce the frequency of accidents.
In his ruling, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, directed the House Committees on Works, FERMA, Transport, and Legislative Compliance to oversee the implementation of these resolutions and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.
The House also observed a minute of silence in honor of all those who have lost their lives in road accidents in Lokoja.
