The ongoing renovation of the Eastern Bypass road in Kano metropolis has led to the deaths of six people over the past three to four weeks.
Nigerian Tracker reports that a section of the road near Chula filling station undergoes repair annually. This has required the closure of one lane for some distance to allow for renovation.
Due to the renovation by a federal agency responsible for repairing the damaged part of the road, people living in the surrounding communities are in constant fear. Six people have died so far while attempting to cross the road.
Just this Saturday morning, a young boy, Amir Suleiman, was killed when a tipper truck, speeding along one of the closed lanes, crushed him.
His father, Malam Suleiman, told NIGERIAN TRACKER that he received the tragic news while attending a funeral prayer around 7 a.m. He rushed home to prepare for his son’s funeral.
Residents of Yandodo, Muhibba, Unguwar Kwari, and Hotoro North are calling on the authorities to address the issue urgently. They suggest either having the contractor work at night to allow both lanes to be used during the day or speeding up the completion of the work. Additionally, they urge law enforcement agencies to strictly monitor how trucks use the road to prevent further accidents.
Penultimate week, another boy was crushed to death on the other lane. His body had to be evacuated with a shovel for burial. Reports indicate that the boy’s father was not shown the corpse due to the horrific nature of the accident.
The community continues to appeal for immediate action to prevent further loss of life.
