Nigeria’s Most Dangerous Highway Still Awaits Complete Rehabilitation

Year after year, the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway tops the list of Nigeria’s most dangerous roads. Despite multiple rehabilitation contracts, the road continues to claim lives, earning it the label of a “national death trap” among drivers.

Also Read: Family of 4 Perish on Abuja-Lokoja Highway

According to FRSC 2025 crash reports, this corridor has already recorded over 140 fatalities between January and June 2025, the highest in the country.

Why This Road Is So Deadly

Incomplete Rehabilitation

• Long stretches are under construction or abandoned mid-repair.
• Sudden lane diversions without proper warning signage cause head-on collisions.

Poor Road Surface

• Deep potholes, especially after Gegu, Abaji, and Koton Karfe, damage vehicles and cause accidents.
• Rainfall worsens the erosion, hiding dangers beneath water-filled craters.

Heavy Vehicle Traffic

• The road serves as a primary north-south freight route, packed with tankers, trailers, and interstate buses.

Crash Data Snapshot

• Total fatalities (Jan–June 2025): 142
• Main causes: Speeding, poor road surface, tanker rollovers
• Worst month: April 2025-37 fatalities, including a multiple-vehicle tanker explosion

FRSC & Community Blackspot Reports

✓ FRSC has flagged five high-risk segments:

• Zuba–Gwagwalada
• Abaji–Gegu
• Gegu–Koton Karfe
• Koton Karfe–Lokoja
• Lokoja–Okene junction

✓ Communities frequently set up makeshift warnings with tyres and branches due to the absence of official hazard markers.

Lessons from Other Dangerous Corridors

• Kenya’s Nairobi-Mombasa Highway reduced fatalities by 40% after dedicated diversion lanes and solar-powered warning signage were introduced.
• South Africa’s N3 corridor enforced strict heavy vehicle speed limits on downhill sections.

RoadKing.ng Recommendations

Problem – Solution

Unfinished rehabilitation – Enforce contractor deadlines & penalties

No warning signage during diversions – Install temporary reflective barriers and solar lights

Heavy truck dominance – Create truck-only lanes where feasible

Poor drainage – Complete culvert systems before rainy season

Community hazard markers – Partner FRSC with communities for approved blackspot alerts

Call to Action

The Abuja-Lokoja corridor is not just another road, it is a lifeline for national commerce and intercity travel. Fixing it is not optional; it’s a public safety emergency.