The Kaduna State government says no fewer than 15 persons perished in crashes on the Kaduna-Abuja highway while driving against traffic, according to a statement it issued at the weekend, in Kaduna.
The States Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who issued the statement, said the information was based on feedback to the State government by the military and security agencies conducting security operations along the highway.
According to him, the figure of the dead was presented along with a report of the latest crash, which occurred early on Sunday morning around Greenfield University, in Chikun local government area, involving an articulated vehicle conveying grains and motorcycles to Abuja and driving against the traffic.
Aruwan said several other fatal accidents had occurred recently on the route, all caused by drivers switching lanes to drive against the traffic, leading to head-on collisions with on-coming vehicles.
Aruwan further said the State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, had expressed dismay at the reports and commiserated with the families of the deceased, while wishing the injured quick recovery.
The Governor re-iterated his call to drivers plying the highway to desist from dangerous practices, such as speeding and driving against the flow of traffic, stressing that the state government had mandated security agents to continue to enforce compliance with good motoring practices. The commissioner urged the public to report violations, crashes and other abnormalities, to the Kaduna State Security Operations.
