A coalition of Nigerian student leaders under the auspices of the Joint Council Leadership Students, have commenced mobilisation of students nationwide to protest what they described as deplorable condition of federal roads across the country, leading to recurring deaths of students and other Nigerians.

In a joint statement on Sunday in Abuja by the Chairman of the Council who doubles as the President, National Association of University Students (NAUS), Comrade Josiah Peter Oche, President, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Comrade Eshiofune Paul Oghayan, and President, National Association Of Nigeria Colleges of Education Students (NANCES), Comrade Isaac Kur Ushahemba, said most of the federal highways are death traps, claiming lives almost on daily basis as a result of their deplorable condition

The nationwide protest is scheduled to hold on 4th February, 2026, to further press on the Federal Government to prioritize federal roads and intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as demand for removal of the Minister of Works over alleged incompetency.

They revealed that during the protest, major highways leading to airports, cities in states and Federal Capital Territory would be blocked.

According to them, Nigeria’s federal highways have become corridors of preventable and avoidable death, claiming the lives of students, workers, traders, families, and transporters daily, nothing that these tragedies cut across class, ethnicity, and geography, exposing systemic neglect and failed supervision.

The student leaders particularly noted that of grave concern are some of the federal highways running through or beside tertiary institutions, where lives of innocent and promising students are cut short from road crashes because of the bad condition of the roads.

They listed some of the dangerous highways to among others include: Abuja–Lokoja–Okene Road (Felele Axis), near Federal University Lokoja & Kogi State Polytechnic; Benin–Okpella–Auchi–Okene Road — near Ambrose Ali University (AAU) Ekpoma & Auchi Polytechnic; Ibadan–Oyo–Ogbomosho Road —near Ladoke Akinsola University of Technology (LAUTECH); Enugu–Onitsha Expressway (Awka Axis) — near Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), and Onitsha–Owerri Road (Ihiagwa Axis) — near Federal University of Technology (FUTO).

Others are Jos–Zaria Road — near University of Jos; Aba–Port Harcourt Road —near Rivers State University (RSU) & Abia State University (ABSU) corridors; Ilorin–Jebba Road — near University of Ilorin; Calabar–Itu–Ikot Ekpene Road — near University of Calabar; East–West Road (Choba/Aluu Axis) — near University of Port Harcourt and North — Gboko-katsina-ala road.

The students observed that these routes are marked by failed road surfaces, potholes, unchecked heavy-duty truck movement, lack of pedestrian bridges, poor lighting, and repeated loss of young lives and abduction of commuters on some of the highways.

In the statement, the student leaders recalled an unfortunate situation where an attempt to draw the attention of the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, to the menace on the federal roads resulted into his verbal attacks on them.

“We will formally place it on record that the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, referred to Nigerian student leaders as ‘very stupid’ for drawing his attention to the avoidable and recurring deaths of students, road users caused by the deplorable condition of federal roads, particularly those running through and around campus corridors.

“This verbal attack followed months of constructive engagement by student bodies. All the recognised principles of struggle; Consultation, Consolidation, Communication, and Confrontation (the 4Cs) were responsibly exhausted.

“Multiple letters were written and appeals made in good faith before a notice of peaceful protest was issued as a last resort.

“This conduct is unbecoming of a public officer, deeply disrespectful, and morally indefensible. It reflects arrogance, intolerance to civic engagement, and a troubling attempt to trivialise the value of Nigerian lives. Bullying student leaders for demanding safety is not leadership; it is impunity.

“Engr. David Umahi’s behaviour represents a clear stain on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an agenda that promises dignity, responsiveness, and people-centred governance.

“We hereby call on Nigerian students, stakeholders and our structures across the six geopolitical zones to prepare for a nationwide peaceful protest on 4th February, 2025, demanding: Presidential intervention, and the relief of Engr. David Umahi from office as Minister of Works, and the appointment of a competent, responsive, and humane professional who will prioritise lives over ego and results over rhetoric.

“Nigeria does not need a Minister who merely claims expertise who describes himself as professor in the field and is yet to commission one completed single project. Nigeria needs a Minister who delivers safety,” part of the statement read.

The students cited some recent incidents which warranted their engagement with the Minister of Works and other stakeholders to include, the fuel tanker explosion of 18th December 2025 in the Auchi community, which razed student lodges, business plazas, and residential buildings , a direct consequence of failed road infrastructure and traffic control.

They also listed the fatal crash involving a Federal University Lokoja student shuttle bus on the Okene–Lokoja–Abuja Highway (Felele Axis); the Gada Biyu crash on the Yangoji–Abuja corridor, which claimed 12 lives, as confirmed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

According to them, FRSC data reported over 50 deaths and 468 injuries on federal highways in Bauchi State within three months in late 2025 while other multiple fatal crashes along the Ejule–Enugu Highway, Ogunesi–Ogbese route, among others were recorded on federal roads nationwide.

“This protest is not against the Nigerian State, but against institutional neglect, failed supervision, and the dangerous normalisation of avoidable deaths.

“We, therefore, call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently relieve the Honourable Minister of Works of his duties and appoint a more credible and people-oriented leader.

“The current state of federal highways undermines the Renewed Hope Agenda and falls far short of the President’s vision for a safe, functional, and humane Nigeria. No reform agenda can succeed where citizens die daily on roads meant to connect opportunity, not coffins.

“We demand decisive presidential action to restore public confidence, protect lives, and realign the Ministry of Works with national priorities,” the statement added. (Text, excluding headline: Nigerian Tribune)

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