Ogun State’s major highways are increasingly becoming accident hotspots, with excessive speed and reckless driving identified as leading causes of fatal crashes despite improved road conditions.
Data from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) shows that the state recorded 724 road crashes in 2024, resulting in 311 deaths and 1,815 injuries. The trend persisted into 2025, with 494 crashes and 212 fatalities recorded in the first half of the year.
Although figures for the first six months of 2026 show a slight decline, 415 crashes, 161 deaths and 1,007 injuries, authorities say the numbers remain alarming.
FRSC officials attribute over 90 percent of these accidents to human factors, particularly speeding, dangerous overtaking, phone use while driving, and drunk driving. Ironically, well-paved roads have emerged as the most dangerous, as drivers tend to speed more on smooth highways.
Key accident-prone areas include the Ogunmakin axis, Ijebu-Ode Expressway, Abeokuta–Sagamu road, and the Ogbere corridor.
Heavy-duty trucks also contribute significantly to fatalities. In one recent incident, 10 people died after a truck driver illegally reversed on a highway, causing a high-speed collision. Stationary trucks remain another major hazard, with several deadly crashes linked to vehicles parked along expressways.
In response, the FRSC intensified enforcement between January and July 2026, arresting over 1,200 drivers and impounding more than 1,000 vehicles for violations such as overloading, fake number plates and dangerous driving. Special operations also targeted high-risk offences across Ogun and Lagos states, leading to thousands of arrests.
Authorities say stricter penalties are on the way, with traffic fines set to increase by 300 percent nationwide. Officials are also pushing for automated enforcement systems that link traffic violations to drivers’ identification and financial records to improve compliance.
Despite ongoing enforcement, experts warn that without a change in driver behavior, Ogun’s highways will continue to pose serious safety risks.
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