Delta State has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising road safety and has threatened punitive sanctions in addressing the recurring incidents involving articulated trucks, particularly around the Ubu Bridge axis in Ogwashi-Uku, along the Ughelli–Asaba dual carriageway.
The state Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the government would implement decisive measures aimed at curbing the rising cases of accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles on the corridor.
Izeze said the approach is anchored on enhanced safety enforcement rather than restrictive or punitive measures that could impede the free movement of goods and services.
He said planned interventions would include stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, improved speed control, and operational checks on articulated trucks plying the route.
The commissioner further called for collective action to prevent future accidents, appealing to road safety experts, and concerned citizens to voluntarily offer practical, pro bono suggestions targeted at achieving zero accidents on the affected stretch.
He stressed that the appeal was for genuine, and public-spirited contributions aimed at safeguarding lives and preserving the integrity of the road.
The commissioner explained that the renewed safety push follows a spate of accidents involving articulated trucks on the corridor, which have heightened concerns among motorists and residents despite the road’s recent completion and its enhanced aesthetics.
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He revealed that the latest incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, December 30, 2025, marking the 17th recorded accident involving articulated trucks on the Ogwashi-Uku–Asaba stretch since the road was completed.
The incident occurred near the Ubu Bridge, a section known for its smooth pavement and modern drainage system designed to channel run off water from the surrounding Ogwashi-Uku hills into drains leading to the Ubu River.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the articulated truck lost control while approaching the bridge, tilting and partially obstructing the carriageway.
Fortunately, no casualties were recorded.
The driver reportedly attributed the accident to mechanical failure, claiming that the truck’s gear selector failed to engage a lower gear while navigating the approach to the bridge.
He dismissed suggestions of fatigue, describing the incident as an act of destiny. However, the explanation has done little to assuage public concern, given the frequency of similar occurrences on the same stretch of road.
