Ten people died on Sunday night when a truck driver reversed on the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway. The collision at Saapade Bridge killed nine adult males and one child. Six others were injured. The Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed the crash involved a white Sinotruk truck and a Toyota Hiace bus with Lagos registration EKY 290 YM.
The FRSC said the truck driver missed his turn and reversed into oncoming traffic. The bus driver travelling at high speed could not stop in time. Preliminary investigations blamed speeding, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving. Rescue teams took the injured to Victory Hospital in Ogere. The dead were moved to FOS Mortuary in Ipara. Police from Ishara Division impounded the vehicles and cleared the road.
This crash is not an isolated incident. Nigeria recorded 11,036 road crashes in 2025. Reversing on highways caused 12 percent of fatal accidents. The FRSC Ogun Sector Commander Oludare Ogunjobi said reversing on expressways is now an epidemic. He warned commercial drivers and truck operators to use approved turning points. Yet enforcement remains weak. Many drivers still reverse on highways daily without consequences.
The economic cost of these crashes is staggering. The World Bank estimates Nigeria loses 3 percent of GDP annually to road accidents. This crash alone will cost families millions in funeral expenses and lost income. The truck involved had no visible registration number. This suggests a pattern of unregistered vehicles operating with impunity. The Dangote inscription on the truck raises questions about corporate fleet oversight.
Victims included 15 adult males, two adult females and one male child. The gender imbalance points to a deeper social issue. Most commercial bus passengers are male workers travelling for jobs. The child victim was likely a dependent. The two women injured may have been traders or market workers. This crash will ripple through families and communities for years.
FRSC rescue teams arrived within 30 minutes. This response time is faster than the national average. Yet medical facilities in Ogun remain under-equipped. Victory Hospital in Ogere lacks a trauma centre. Patients often need transfer to Lagos for critical care. This delay increases fatality rates. The FRSC has no air ambulance service. Road congestion often blocks ground ambulances.
The FRSC has launched multiple campaigns against highway reversing. Yet compliance remains low. Many drivers believe they can reverse safely. Others claim they have no alternative. The FRSC has not installed enough U-turn points on the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway. Drivers often reverse for kilometres to reach missed exits. This creates multiple collision points.
This crash exposes systemic failures in road safety governance. The FRSC lacks the manpower to patrol highways 24/7. Many patrol vehicles are grounded due to lack of fuel or maintenance. Traffic cameras are non-functional on most expressways. Without enforcement, regulations are meaningless. The FRSC must partner with state governments to install more turning points and increase patrols.
