Why Night Travel in Nigeria Has Become a Death Sentence on Many Highways

For many Nigerians, night travel has shifted from a matter of convenience to a life-or-death gamble. What once meant cooler temperatures and faster journeys now means kidnappings, ambushes, fatal crashes, and total helplessness.

Also Read: Why Do So Many Car Accidents Happen at Night?

From Abuja to Benin, Enugu to Lokoja, Maiduguri to Kaduna, Nigeria’s highways turn hostile once the sun goes down. Poor lighting, broken-down vehicles, armed criminals, and abandoned security posts combine to make night travel one of the deadliest choices a road user can make today.

RoadKing.ng investigates why night travel has become so dangerous, the roads most affected, and the silent failures enabling this crisis.

The Deadly Pattern After Dark

Across Nigeria, a disturbing pattern repeats itself every night:

• Vehicles slow down due to potholes or diversions
• Criminals exploit darkness and isolation
• Crashes go unnoticed for hours
• Victims bleed to death before help arrives

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), over 55% of fatal highway crashes occur between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM, despite lower traffic volumes during these hours (FRSC Annual Report, 2024).

Roads Where Night Travel Is Strongly Discouraged

1. Abuja–Kaduna Expressway

Once evening sets in, this road becomes a kidnap corridor.

Armed groups block the road with logs or vehicles

Victims are abducted at gunpoint

Security patrols thin out after dusk

Many transport companies now cancel night trips entirely on this route.

2. Lokoja–Okene–Benin Highway

This road combines poor engineering and insecurity.

Tankers lose control on slopes

Deep potholes are invisible at night

Robbers attack stalled vehicles

At Gegu Junction, multiple fatal crashes have occurred after sunset, often with zero immediate emergency response.

3. East–West Road

Night travel here is a trap.

Flooded potholes hide under darkness

Broken bridges have no warning signs

Militants exploit isolated stretches

Drivers report that once your vehicle breaks down at night, you are completely exposed.

4. Zaria–Gusau–Sokoto Road

This Northern corridor is infamous for:

Bandit ambushes

Kidnapping of entire busloads

Long stretches without police or military presence

Locals advise travelers to complete journeys before 4:00 PM.

5. Enugu–Onitsha Expressway

• Gridlocks caused by road failure create night-time danger zones.
• Robbers attack vehicles stuck in traffic
• Drivers abandon broken cars and flee
• Emergency services struggle to access crash scenes

Why Night Travel Is More Dangerous in Nigeria

1. Zero Road Lighting

Most federal highways have no functional streetlights, even near major cities.

2. Limited Security Presence

Police and military checkpoints reduce significantly after dark, leaving criminals unchecked.

3. Delayed Emergency Response

Crash victims often wait hours before help arrives — if it arrives at all.

4. Invisible Road Hazards

Potholes, fallen trees, stalled trucks, and failed bridges are almost impossible to see at night.

“Once it’s 7pm on Lokoja road, I’m not moving again. I’ve seen people disappear.”

— Commercial bus driver, Kogi State

“My brother survived the crash but died before help came. No light. No patrol. Nothing.”

— Crash victim’s sister, Edo State

What the Numbers Say

• 6,000+ Nigerians die annually in road traffic crashes (FRSC, 2024)
• Over half occur at night
• Kidnappings on highways increased by 48% between 2022 and 2024 (SBM Intelligence)

RoadKing.ng Safety Advisory

🛑 Avoid night travel on federal highways whenever possible

🛑 Never stop for strangers or unexpected roadblocks

🛑 Inform someone of your route and ETA

🛑 Use only well-known transport operators

🛑 If stranded, stay alert and seek populated areas

The Bigger Question

Why should Nigerians plan their lives around daylight just to stay alive?

Roads are not battlefields. Darkness should not equal death.

Until roads are fixed, lighting restored, and security made visible, night travel will remain one of Nigeria’s greatest silent killers.