Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising road safety measures rather than punitive sanctions in addressing the recurring accidents involving articulated trucks, particularly around the Ubu Bridge axis in Ogwashi-Uku along the newly completed Ughelli–Asaba dual carriageway.
The State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, disclosed this in a statement, explaining that the government is set to implement decisive interventions aimed at reducing the increasing incidents involving heavy-duty vehicles on the corridor.
According to Izeze, the Oborevwori administration’s strategy is focused on strengthening safety enforcement instead of imposing restrictions that could disrupt the free flow of goods and services.
He said planned measures include stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, improved speed control mechanisms, and enhanced operational checks on articulated trucks using the route.
The Commissioner also called for collective responsibility in preventing further accidents, appealing to professionals, road safety experts, and concerned members of the public to voluntarily provide practical, pro bono recommendations aimed at achieving zero accidents on the affected stretch.
He stressed that the appeal was not for paid consultancy services but for sincere, public-spirited contributions designed to protect lives and preserve the integrity of the road infrastructure.
Izeze explained that the renewed emphasis on safety followed a series of accidents involving articulated trucks on the corridor, which have continued to raise concerns among motorists and residents despite the road’s recent completion and improved aesthetics.
He revealed that the most recent incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, December 30, 2025, marking the seventeenth recorded articulated truck accident on the Ogwashi-Uku–Asaba stretch since the project was completed.
The accident occurred near the Ubu Bridge, a section characterised by smooth pavement and a modern drainage system designed to channel runoff from the surrounding Ogwashi-Uku hills into drains leading to the Ubu River.
Eyewitnesses said the truck lost control while approaching the bridge, tilted, and partially blocked the carriageway. No casualties were recorded.
The driver reportedly blamed the incident on mechanical failure, stating that the gear selector failed to engage a lower gear while navigating the approach to the bridge.
He dismissed claims of fatigue, describing the crash as an act of destiny. However, the explanation has failed to ease public concern, given the frequency of similar incidents on the same stretch of road.
“Despite the installation of clearly visible warning signs and speed limit notices before and after the bridge on both approaches, as directed by Governor Oborevwori several months ago, many articulated truck drivers continue to disregard traffic regulations,” Izeze said.
He added that the Governor has consistently maintained that the state must avoid measures that could be interpreted as restricting the free movement of goods and services, in line with global best practices.
Consequently, the administration has prioritised improved compliance, driver discipline, and enhanced road safety measures over outright restrictions on heavy-duty vehicle movement.
The Ogwashi-Uku–Asaba corridor has become one of the busiest interstate routes in the South-South region, serving as a major transit link for articulated trucks travelling from the North, East, and South-West through Asaba and Ughelli to Warri, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Akwa Ibom, and Calabar.
This volume of traffic has placed significant pressure on the road, even as the project continues to receive commendation for its quality and contribution to regional connectivity.
Despite the accidents, residents have acknowledged the broader impact of Governor Oborevwori’s infrastructure drive, noting that the standard of the road reflects the administration’s commitment to people-centred governance.
As investigations into the latest incident continue, stakeholders have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, improved driver discipline, and sustained public awareness to ensure that the benefits of the road project are not undermined by avoidable accidents.
