Kogi: The Kogi Government has banned the daytime movement of heavy-duty vehicles due to the high rate of accidents. Dr. Yusuf Suberu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi Governor on Road Safety Matters, announced the ban on Monday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the directive followed extensive consultations with transport stakeholders, law enforcement agencies, and road safety experts. The move aims to address the alarming frequency of road crashes involving articulated vehicles in the state. Under the new regulation, these categories of vehicles are now permitted to operate only between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. within the state.
The decision comes in response to a recent tragic road crash involving multiple heavy-duty vehicles, which claimed several lives and left many others with life-threatening injuries. Suberu stated that this regulation is a necessary response to the incidents witnessed, as it is a strategic measure to reduce road crashes and save lives. The safety of Kogi citizens is considered paramount.
Kogi, positioned as a central transit corridor for north-south bound vehicular movement, sees high volumes of traffic daily, particularly from long-distance trailers and tankers conveying fuel, goods, and raw materials across Nigeria. This has contributed to congestion, road deterioration, and frequent accidents over the years.
The new law is not only a preventive safety intervention but also part of Kogi's alignment with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety and Injury Prevention, targeting a 50 percent reduction in road traffic deaths by 2030. Suberu emphasized the importance of adopting forward-looking solutions that prioritize human life over profit and convenience.
Operators of heavy-duty vehicles, including transport companies, logistics firms, independent drivers, and unions, are urged to adhere strictly to the new operational timeframe. Enforcement agencies have been directed to ensure full implementation and monitoring of compliance.
Suberu stressed the need for public cooperation, highlighting that the success of the policy depends on joint efforts from the government, private sector stakeholders, and the general motoring public. Awareness campaigns will be launched across all local government areas to educate road users about the regulation.
Special attention will be given to high-risk routes and densely populated areas such as Ganaja Junction, Zango, Felele, and Itobe. Transport unions, including NARTO, NUPENG, and the Road Transport Employers' Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), are expected to play key roles in sensitizing their members and ensuring compliance.
He reiterated that the new policy is part of a larger road safety reform agenda being implemented under the current administration, which includes improved traffic signage, better enforcement coordination, road maintenance, and driver re-certification programs.