6 Dead, 14 Injured in Ghastly Accident on Nkalagu–Enugu Expressway

At least six persons have lost their lives, while 14 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal accident that occurred over the weekend along the Nkalagu axis of the Abakaliki–Enugu Expressway.

The tragic incident, which happened near the Nkalagu overhead bridge, involved a commercial Toyota bus and a truck. Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi State, Mr. Henry Igwe, said a total of 22 people were involved in the crash. He attributed the accident to dangerous overtaking. Igwe noted that officers of the FRSC, in collaboration with the Red Cross, promptly evacuated the victims to nearby hospitals for medical attention. According to him, “Some of the injured victims were taken to Annunciation and Orthopaedic Hospitals in Enugu by our officers and the Red Cross, while others were taken to the General Hospital, Ezzamgbo, in Ebonyi State.” A resident of Nkalagu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the Enugu–Nkalagu Expressway as one of the most dangerous roads to ply, blaming its poor design and construction for the frequent accidents. He said, “The road is very dangerous because of its one-way nature and the hard concrete central demarcation, which doesn’t allow vehicles to manoeuvre or dodge reckless drivers. Since 2019, when former Governor David Umahi began the dualisation of the Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway with a flyover at the Nkalagu junction, the 1km stretch from the Enugu–Nkalagu boundary to the junction has remained incomplete and blocked.” The resident further lamented that the incomplete project and central barrier worsen the situation, leaving no escape routes for vehicles during emergencies. “Hardly a month passes without an accident on this road. Residents living across the expressway struggle to access their homes due to the blockade,” he added. He appealed to both the federal and state governments to expedite work on the road project to avert further loss of lives and ensure safer travel for motorists along the busy corridor.