Author: The Nation

On Abuja’s highways, danger often comes not from reckless drivers alone but from vehicles stacked with goods so high they defy logic. From foodstuff to furniture, cars and buses haul loads many times their size, often tied down with nothing more than frayed ropes. At speeds above 120 kilometres per hour, one loose item can trigger a deadly chain of crashes, yet this peril has become a daily reality in the country’s capital. NICHOLAS KALU reports.

On a bright afternoon along the Abuja–Keffi Expressway, cars whizz past at frightening speeds. Among them, a small commercial bus with bags of yams and rice piled high on its roof sways precariously from lane to lane. The ropes holding the load are loose, and one bag dangles dangerously close to falling. Drivers behind honk and attempt to manoeuvre away, but traffic on the busy expressway offers little room. At 120 kilometres per hour, one mishap could set off a chain of collisions with devastating consequences.

This scene is not unusual in the Federal Capital Territory. It is part of the troubling realities that residents of Abuja have come to live with. Across the city’s highways and adjoining roads, vehicles are routinely overloaded with goods of all shapes and sizes, ranging from foodstuffs and building materials to furniture and household items. Often, the loads tower over the vehicles themselves, sometimes ten times the size of the car or bus carrying them. For many, it feels like an accident waiting to happen, yet the menace has become almost normalised, exposing road users to constant danger.

The problem has grown so common that it now defines the driving experience on major highways such as the Abuja–Lokoja, Abuja–Keffi, and Kubwa Expressways. A trip on these routes reveals buses with luggage stacked far above their height, trucks burdened with goods strapped loosely with fraying ropes, and private cars pressed into service as moving vans. The lack of proper restraints on these loads means items frequently fall onto the road. At such high speeds, drivers swerving to avoid fallen cargo risk colliding with other vehicles, and what starts as a minor slip of rope can quickly escalate into a multi-vehicle pileup.

Residents recall terrifying near misses and tragic accidents that have their roots in this culture of reckless overloading.

A taxi driver, Samuel Edet recounted a close call that still shakes him. “I once saw a bus carrying so many bags of rice that the roof caved in slightly under the weight,” he said. “One bag slipped off and landed in the middle of the highway. Cars swerved, and there was almost a pile-up. It was only God’s mercy that saved us that day.”

Experts in trauma medicine attest to the toll such accidents take. Dr Musa Ahmed, a trauma surgeon at the National Hospital in Abuja, said the injuries are often catastrophic.

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“We see patients from highway crashes where overloaded vehicles are involved. The impact is usually worse because the cargo itself becomes a weapon. Victims arrive with multiple fractures, crushed bones, severe head trauma, and internal bleeding. In many cases, survival is impossible by the time they are brought in. Overloading is a silent killer on our roads, and unfortunately, it is claiming more lives than many people realise.”

A grim incident last year underscored this danger. A truck overloaded with cement bags lost control along the Abuja–Keffi Expressway, toppling onto a commercial bus and killing several passengers instantly. Not long after, another vehicle carrying iron rods shed part of its load on the Kubwa Expressway. One rod pierced the windshield of a trailing car, causing the driver to lose control and spark a crash involving three other vehicles. These are not isolated events but part of a recurring pattern that exposes the inadequacy of enforcement in Abuja.

Comparing Abuja and Lagos

What makes the situation more frustrating for residents is the awareness that the problem is not insurmountable. In Lagos, where traffic density and road safety concerns are just as severe, there is a more visible enforcement of regulations. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has built a reputation for being proactive and uncompromising. Drivers in Lagos know that overloading a vehicle, whether with passengers or goods, attracts swift consequences. Vehicles are often impounded, and heavy fines are imposed.

In Abuja, however, the enforcement presence is far less pronounced. Overloaded vehicles move freely on major highways without fear of arrest. The result is a perception of lawlessness that emboldens offenders. “When you drive in Lagos, you see how strict the officials are,” said Fatima Suleiman, a civil servant who shuttles between Abuja and Lagos. “If you try to overload your car or bus in Lagos, you will not go far before someone stops you. Here in Abuja, nobody cares. You see small cars carrying loads meant for a truck, and nobody stops them. It is frightening.”

The contrast between the two cities is stark and raises questions about the priorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Federal Road Safety Corps, both of which have mandates to keep roads safe.

The FCTA has made attempts in the past, but these have been sporadic and inconsistent. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, the administration ordered a clampdown on overloaded vehicles, though the focus then was mainly on passenger overloading rather than cargo. The measure faded once the pandemic eased, leaving the roads to their familiar chaos.

The Federal Road Safety Corps has been more active. Early this year, it launched an inter-agency task force on the Kaduna–Abuja highway to enforce a ban on overloading, particularly targeting trailers that carry goods and sometimes passengers in unsafe numbers. In Abuja, officials say they apprehended more than a hundred offenders in a single week during a special enforcement exercise.

Yet, for all these efforts, the sight of dangerously loaded buses and trucks remains a daily reality in the capital. Enforcement is undermined by several factors. Some officials admit privately that vehicles owned by politically-connected businesses are difficult to impound. Corruption and insufficient manpower also mean many offenders escape punishment. For residents, the impact of these gaps is all too clear on the roads they use every day.

The frustrations of Abuja residents echo a deep sense of fear and helplessness. For some, each trip on the highway feels like taking a gamble. “Every time I drive to work on the Kubwa Expressway, I am tense,” said Chinedu Okafor, a logistics operator. “There are trucks loaded with goods piled higher than the vehicle itself. I know that if anything falls off, it could be me or the car next to me that ends up in the hospital. We overload because transporting in batches is expensive, but the truth is that the risk is too high. If authorities enforced the rules properly, we would have no choice but to comply.”

Commercial drivers are often caught between the need for economic necessity and safety concerns. Rising fuel prices and harsh operating conditions prompt many to overload as a means of maximising each trip. But the cost of one accident, both in human lives and financial ruin, far outweighs the savings. Civil society advocates argue that the government must take into account these economic pressures by introducing policies that reduce the incentive to overload. Subsidized weigh stations, affordable logistics hubs, and targeted support for small transporters could help curb the practice without pushing operators into deeper hardship.

 Why Abuja cannot afford to ignore the crisis

The menace of overloading is not just about traffic discipline. It is a matter of public safety that carries implications for health, emergency services, and the city’s image as the nation’s capital. Each overloaded vehicle that speeds through the highways poses a direct threat to other road users. In a city where thousands commute daily, the potential for mass casualties in the event of a serious crash is frightening.

Emergency workers also face difficulties when responding to crashes involving overloaded vehicles. Heavy cargo makes rescue operations harder, slows down evacuation, and sometimes traps victims under weights too heavy to lift quickly. In critical moments where every second counts, this delay can mean the difference between life and death.

The broader consequences are equally troubling. Frequent road accidents strain the healthcare system, already under pressure from other emergencies. Families lose breadwinners, and the economy suffers from lost productivity. For Abuja, a city that aspires to reflect the nation’s best face, the prevalence of such reckless road practices undermines its credibility.

The way forward

There is growing consensus that urgent steps must be taken to bring the situation under control. Experts point to a combination of strict enforcement, public awareness, and infrastructural support as the way forward. For enforcement to be effective, it must be consistent and free of favouritism. Every overloaded vehicle, regardless of ownership, must be apprehended and penalised. The FRSC and FCTA must also expand their manpower and logistical capabilities to cover more routes and intercept offenders in real time.

At the same time, sustained public enlightenment is crucial. Many drivers remain unaware of the full dangers of overloading, or they choose to ignore them for economic reasons. Continuous campaigns through radio, television, and social media, backed by transport unions, can help drive home the message that overloading is not just illegal but deadly.

Technology also has a role to play. With surveillance cameras and digital monitoring, authorities can track offenders more efficiently. Mobile inspection points at the entry and exit routes into Abuja would also help intercept dangerously loaded trucks before they merge into high-speed traffic.

For residents, what matters most is that something concrete is done, and soon. “It feels like we are just waiting for a disaster. The authorities must act before more lives are lost. Abuja cannot continue to ignore this problem,” said Fatima Suleiman.

 A call to responsibility

 Abuja’s highways mirror the city’s image as a growing urban hub. But beneath the glistening new roads lies a hidden danger in the form of reckless overloading. The menace is already costing lives, and without decisive intervention, it will claim many more.

 The responsibility lies with both the government and citizens. While authorities must enforce the law, drivers and transporters must recognise that no economic gain is worth the blood spilt in preventable crashes. In Lagos, a firm stand against road indiscipline has produced measurable results. Abuja, too, can achieve this, but only if enforcement is taken seriously and the culture of impunity is dismantled.

 As the city grows and its roads become busier, the urgency of this task cannot be overstated. Overloaded vehicles are ticking time bombs on Abuja’s highways. Unless the problem is confronted with the seriousness it deserves, the capital risks becoming a city where every journey carries the shadow of tragedy.