Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising road safety over punitive sanctions in addressing recurring accidents involving articulated trucks, particularly near the Ubu Bridge axis in Ogwashi-Uku along the newly constructed Ughelli–Asaba dual carriageway.
The State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the government is set to implement firm and targeted measures to curb the rising number of accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles along the corridor.
According to the Commissioner, the Oborevwori administration’s strategy focuses on strengthening safety enforcement rather than imposing restrictions that could disrupt the free flow of goods and services. Planned interventions include stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, enhanced speed monitoring, and improved operational checks on articulated trucks using the route.
Izeze also called for collective responsibility in preventing future accidents, appealing to professionals, road safety experts, and concerned members of the public to voluntarily contribute practical, public-spirited suggestions aimed at achieving zero accidents on the affected stretch.
He stressed that the appeal was not for consultancy services, but for genuine contributions focused on saving lives and preserving the road infrastructure.
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He explained that the renewed safety drive followed a series of accidents involving articulated trucks on the corridor, which have raised concerns among motorists and residents despite the road’s recent completion and improved aesthetics.
The Commissioner revealed that the most recent incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, December 30, 2025, bringing the total number of recorded articulated truck accidents on the Ogwashi-Uku–Asaba stretch to seventeen (17) since the road was completed.
The accident occurred near the Ubu Bridge, an area 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 obstructed the carriageway. No casualties were recorded.
The driver reportedly attributed the incident to mechanical failure, claiming that the truck’s gear selector failed to engage a lower gear while navigating the bridge approach.
He dismissed suggestions of fatigue, describing the occurrence as an act of destiny.
However, the explanation has done little to ease public concern, given the frequency of similar accidents on the same stretch of road.
The Commissioner further said: “Despite the installation of clearly visible warning signs and speed limit notices before and after the bridge on both approaches installed months ago at the directive of Governor Oborevwori, many articulated truck drivers continue to disregard traffic regulations.
“Governor Oborevwori has consistently maintained that the state must avoid actions that could be perceived as restricting the free movement of goods and services, in line with global best practices.
“His administration has therefore prioritised improved compliance, driver discipline, and road safety measures over outright restrictions on the movement of heavy-duty vehicles.”
The Ogwashi-Uku–Asaba corridor has emerged as 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 heavy traffic has placed considerable pressure on the road, even as the project continues to attract commendation for its quality and contribution to regional connectivity.
Despite the incidents, residents have acknowledged the broader impact of Governor Oborevwori’s infrastructure drive, noting that the quality of the road reflects the administration’s commitment to people-centred governance.
As investigations into the latest accident 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 mishaps.
