March 20, 2025 – Nyanya, Abuja, Nigeria.

At least six people died in a devastating truck crash on a busy highway near Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on Wednesday night. The crash, which was a Dangote cement-trailer that collided with stationary vehicles, left numerous others injured and also resulting in an enormous fire that completely burnt 14 vehicles.

The accident happened at approximately 6:58 PM on March 19, 2025, along the Nyanya Bridge in the Ayo locality, 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Abuja city center. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said the trailer, which was carrying a full load of cement, lost control as it moved towards the bridge from the AYA junction. The truck then collided with a line of cars that were trapped in traffic. The Horrific Impact.

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“The accident led to a huge fire, which engulfed all 14 vehicles involved in the accident in a raging inferno,” FCT Police Public Relations Officer SP Josephine Adeh said in a statement released late Wednesday.

The disorganized scene caused panic, with motorists and pedestrians running for cover under thick smoke and blistering heat. Emergency teams, comprising police officers and firefighters, arrived on the scene and worked around the clock to extract trapped victims from the wreckage. Even though their lives were later tried to be revived, six people were pulled out of the wreckage and quickly rushed to the nearby hospitals. Unfortunately, all of them were confirmed dead by medics. Their bodies were later stored in the Karu General Hospital morgue. The identities of the dead victims are yet to be released.

Police officials, together with fire fighters and other emergency responders, managed to put out the fire and prevent any further spread. The ruins were cleared and traffic in the surrounding area was normal again within hours. However, the disaster’s aftermath presented local authorities with the challenge of dealing with the extent of the devastation.

The FCT Police Command also sympathized with the families of the victims, promising them that the cause of the accident would be established and prevent other similar tragedies from occurring. “We are committed to thoroughly investigating this accident to understand how it happened and to ensure the safety measures that will prevent such incidents from recurring in the future,” Adeh stated.

The police also appealed to all road users to exercise caution, particularly on high-traffic roads like the Nyanya Bridge, and drive strictly within speed limits. “Safe driving culture is everything in preventing accidents like this,” Adeh stressed the importance of vigilance on Nigeria’s traffic-congested roads.

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This is a sad reminder of the ongoing problem of Nigeria’s excessive dependence on trucks to transport goods. Without efficient rail networks for the carriage of cargo, fatal accidents involving heavy trucks are a common feature on Nigeria’s roads. There have been several high-profile tanker and other large vehicle crashes in recent months.

One of the most fatal truck accidents was earlier this year in January, when a gasoline tanker exploded along the road near Suleja, Niger state, killing 98 individuals. The explosion was due to people trying to siphon gasoline from a wrecked tanker with a generator, a risky move that resulted in a deadly fire.

The Director-General of the Emergency Management Department of the FCT Ag. Director-General Engr. Abdulrahman Mohammed also offered his condolences to the families of the victims, stating that the department is devoted to all forms of support and assistance for the victims of the disaster. In his address, Engr. Mohammed called on all drivers to comply with traffic laws and exercise greater vigilance, especially while on high-risk roads.

Initial reports from the FCT Emergency Management Department indicate that the trailer used in Wednesday’s accident was an open-body Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered truck. This information may be vital in determining the extent to which the type of fuel in the vehicle contributed to the intensity of the fire.

Other of the injured victims were evacuated to various hospitals where they were attended to, some of which included National Hospital, Asokoro Hospital, State House Clinic, Custom Hospital, and Nyanya General Hospital. The authorities continued to check on the health conditions of the wounded and providing assistance where necessary.

The ghastly accident is a stark pointer to the imperative of reforming road safety in Nigeria, particularly the carrying of hazardous materials by articulated trucks. While the Nigerian government has announced a series of measures aimed at improving road safety, the accident is a pointer that much more needs to be accomplished.

Security agencies have also directed members of the public to be vigilant and to report any abnormal or dangerous activity to the FCT Command through the following emergency contact numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883, and 07057337653. The public should also call the Complaint Response Unit number 08107314192 for anything related to traffic safety or in case of emergencies.

In the wake of this tragic crash, Nigerian authorities are demanding stricter regulations on the use of safety features in trucks and the construction of better infrastructure, especially for the transportation of heavy loads. These actions are seen as critical steps in reducing the number of such horrific crashes in the future.

While Nigeria’s roads persist in claiming lives through traffic accidents, the clamor for safer roads and better transport continues to grow. At least for now, the families of the victims must mourn the death of their loved ones, while the nation watches and waits in expectation.

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