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Several yam traders are counting substantial financial losses following a road accident involving a truck loaded with yams along Abiem Road at Deport in Makurdi on Friday, February 20, 2026.
The truck, conveying yams reportedly purchased in various parts of Benue State and destined for markets in Delta State, lost control and crashed, resulting in the complete destruction of the goods. Fortunately, the incident recorded no fatalities or serious injuries among the occupants.
Ambassador Moses Hembanzan, who visited the accident scene, described the event as unfortunate, stressing that while human lives were spared, the economic impact on the affected businessmen and women is severe. The traders, many of whom operate on small margins and rely on interstate haulage for their livelihood, now face significant setbacks.
Preliminary findings suggest that poor vehicle maintenance may have contributed to the crash, renewing concerns about the continued operation of ageing and mechanically unsound trucks on Nigerian roads. Hembanbanzan criticised what he described as weak enforcement by road safety agencies and the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), alleging that routine vehicle inspections are frequently not carried out effectively.
He called on relevant authorities to urgently provide support to the affected traders and to strengthen enforcement measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. The crash has once again spotlighted persistent challenges in road safety compliance, vehicle fitness standards, and the vulnerability of small-scale traders who depend heavily on reliable interstate transportation to move perishable agricultural produce.
The development has reignited public calls for stricter monitoring of commercial vehicles, improved roadworthiness checks, and greater protection for informal sector operators whose businesses are frequently disrupted by preventable road accidents.
