A fatal road accident along the Abakaliki–Enugu Expressway has claimed six lives and left 14 others injured, prompting renewed calls for urgent intervention on one of the region’s most hazardous routes.
The crash occurred near the Nkalagu overhead bridge in Ishielu Local Government Area on Saturday and involved a tipper truck and a commercial passenger bus. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 22 individuals were affected, with two escaping unhurt.
FRSC Sector Commander in Ebonyi State, Anthony Ogbodo, confirmed the incident and attributed the cause to dangerous overtaking on the busy expressway. Emergency responders, including FRSC officers and Red Cross personnel, evacuated victims to nearby hospitals.
“Some of the injured victims were taken to Annunciation and Orthopaedic Hospitals in Enugu, while others were taken to the General Hospital, Ezzamgbo, in Ebonyi State,” Ogbodo said.
Local residents have long voiced concerns over the safety of the Enugu–Nkalagu Expressway. One resident, speaking anonymously, described the road as “one of the most dangerous routes in the area,” citing its one-way design and rigid concrete central demarcation as major contributors to frequent accidents.
“The central barrier doesn’t allow vehicles to manoeuvre or avoid reckless drivers. It’s a death trap,” the resident said.
The road has been under partial reconstruction since 2019, when former Governor David Umahi initiated the dualisation of the Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway, including a flyover at the Nkalagu junction. However, a critical one-kilometre stretch remains incomplete and blocked, further complicating traffic flow and emergency access.
“Hardly a month passes without an accident on this road,” the resident added, urging both federal and state authorities to expedite work on the project and improve safety measures.
Residents living along the expressway also report difficulty accessing their homes due to the ongoing blockade, compounding frustrations over the stalled infrastructure.