Overloaded Vehicles, an Unsafe Road: The Tragedy of Njimtilo -By Fadeela Mustapha Lawan

Every day, overloaded vehicles speed along the road leading into Maiduguri, dodging potholes and other hazards. For the people of Njimtilo, this dangerous route is a part of their daily lives. But for too many, it has become a road to tragedy. For years, residents of Njimtilo have watched in horror as these vehicles crash, leaving behind a trail of destruction and death.

Now, the people of Njimtilo are demanding action to end the carnage on their doorstep.

Borno State is a hub for trade and commerce, with many goods being transported in and out of the State every day. However, a lack of proper regulation and enforcement has led to dangerous levels of overloading, putting the lives of road users at risk. The majority of these goods belong to traders and merchants.

They may be transporting items such as food, livestock, fuel, and building materials to sell in other parts of the State or country. In some cases, these items are being transported on behalf of big businesses or corporations, while in other cases they are being carried by individual traders. Regardless of who they belong to, the practice of overloading is putting people’s lives at risk.

The lack of regulation and enforcement at the motor park is putting passengers and drivers at risk. It’s true that the lack of regulation means that there are no rules in place to prevent vehicles from being overloaded. This can lead to dangerous situations, especially on the road to Borno State, which is known for being dangerous due to the ongoing conflict in the area. The potholes along the road in Njimtilo are another contributing factor to accidents.

The potholes can cause vehicles to lose control, or they can damage tires, leading to blowouts. In addition, the potholes can make it difficult for drivers to see what’s ahead of them, which can lead to collisions.

Another important factor to consider is the speed at which long vehicles travel. When these vehicles enter towns, they must slow down to navigate through the narrow streets. However, some drivers choose to maintain high speeds, which can lead to collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians, as well as damage to the vehicles themselves. To prevent these dangerous situations, drivers must be better educated about the importance of obeying speed limits. This combination of factors can put passengers and drivers in serious danger, and has even led to some drivers being killed along the way.

To address the issue of potholes, road maintenance crews could be hired to regularly inspect and repair the roads in Njimtilo. Additionally, the government could invest in drainage systems to prevent water from pooling on the roads and causing further damage. To prevent speeding, speed cameras could be installed on the roads, along with increased enforcement of speed limits. And finally, to reduce the number of overloaded vehicles, weight stations could be set up to weigh vehicles and ensure that they are not carrying more than the legal limit.

Fadeela Mustapha Lawan wrote from the Department of Mass Communication, Borno State University.