Unlicensed Behind the Wheel: Nigeria’s Struggle with Truck Safety, Regulation, and Accountability

Every day, Nigeria’s highways carry thousands of trucks — some loaded with goods, others with lives at risk. But behind the wheels of many of these giant vehicles are drivers who should never be there: unlicensed, untrained, and often unmonitored. The result is a rising toll of preventable tragedies, from bustling expressways to quiet towns, leaving families shattered and communities searching for answers. The question is no longer if another accident will happen, but when and what will finally be done to stop it, Victory Bernard reports.

Nigeria’s highways have become increasingly deadly as heavy trucks continue to dominate freight transport, often with devastating consequences. Mechanical failures, speeding, overloading, and inadequately trained drivers have turned key transport corridors into scenes of frequent tragedy.

Recent incidents highlight the human cost of this crisis. On the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in December 2025, a chain-reaction collision killed three members of a family when a speeding truck rammed into vehicles ahead, with the driver reportedly fleeing the scene.

In Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, a cement-laden truck lost control in October 2025, killing at least ten people, including a pregnant woman, in what preliminary reports suggested was a combination of overloading and driver error. The most recent tragedy in Auchi, Edo State, involved a Dangote truck striking Ruth Otabor, resulting in her death.

Industry observers, including the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), stress that fleet expansion must be accompanied by adequate driver training and strict vehicle maintenance to prevent further tragedies.

Across these incidents, weak enforcement of licensing standards, insufficient corporate oversight, and regulatory gaps emerge as recurring factors.Industry groups such as the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) have weighed in on the safety implications of large transport fleets.

While welcoming innovations like CNG‑powered trucks, DAPPMAN has emphasized that safety cannot be secondary to expansion. In recent campaigns, officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have highlighted key behavioural factors behind many truck‑related accidents.

Assistant Corps Commander Suleiman Oluwadumiye of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) emphasized the dangers inherent to heavy vehicle operation. “Trucks require greater stopping distances, and when speed combines with recklessness, accidents with devastating consequences are inevitable,” he stated.

To deepen public understanding, industry expert and Head of HSE & Community Relations, Transition Minerals International, Abuja, offered insights into the root causes and possible solutions.

In an interview with HSENations, Aminu attributes the widespread issue of unlicensed driving to systemic lapses. He said, “The primary motivation comes from a country that has failed to enforce basic laws. We have allowed untrained and unlicensed drivers to use the roads freely.”

“Young drivers without the required experience are getting behind the wheels of heavy trucks. Corruption is the order of the day, and agencies meant to enforce these laws often bark without a bite.”

This challenge, he notes, cuts across socioeconomic and demographic groups because the absence of consequences creates an environment where the risks seem low, and the system appears easy to bypass.

A valid driver’s license, he emphasizes, is not just a formality. It is proof of training, competence, and legal accountability- a safeguard that protects both the driver and the public.

To address the rising number of untrained drivers on the road, Aminu proposes a coordinated national strategy. According to him, “First, there should be a law regulating truck driving age to 35 years and above. We need to set up Truck Driving Institutes, require the FRSC to develop a national database for truck drivers, and enforce driver’s license validity across the country.”

“Large companies must establish Truck Driving Academies where drivers can be properly trained. FRSC should partner with these academies for regular training and re-training on defensive driving techniques,” Aminu said, outlining corporate steps that can reduce incidents.

“This will keep drivers’ skills updated and improve safety on our roads. FRSC should revisit truck driving standards and communicate them clearly to all transport companies. Compliance must be non-negotiable.”