The National Association of University Students (NAUS) has pledged full support for ongoing protests against heavy-duty truck movements in student-heavy areas following a fatal Dangote Cement truck accident that claimed eight lives on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, near Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA).
The crash, which involved a cement-laden vehicle losing control and smashing into a barricade, has reignited demands for corporate accountability and road safety reforms in Nigeria’s academic corridors.
NAUS leaders announced their arrival in Akungba-Akoko on Thursday to join forces with the Ondo NAUS Congress of Medical Students (CMC), AAUA Students’ Union (AAUSU), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Ondo Joint Campus Committee (JCC) in a peaceful demonstration. The action aims to highlight the dangers posed by poorly maintained trucks traversing routes close to university gates, where speed limits are often ignored and maintenance standards fall short.
Eyewitnesses reported that the Dangote Cement truck, descending a steep hill from Ikare, suffered brake failure before veering into the barricade in front of AAUA, crushing pedestrians including students, a pregnant woman, and children. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the death toll at eight – five males and three females – with several others hospitalised in critical condition at nearby facilities in Akungba-Akoko.
Rescue operations stretched into the evening, with debris from the overturned vehicle scattering across the busy thoroughfare.
This incident marks the latest in a series of deadly crashes linked to Dangote Cement trucks on the same stretch, with investigations revealing at least 25 fatalities over the past four years due to similar brake failures and overloading. Local communities have long complained about the absence of bypass routes, inadequate driver training, and the lack of technologies such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS) or electronic stability control (ESC) in the fleet.
The recurring tragedies have turned what should be a hub of learning into a zone of heightened road safety risks for Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Ondo State Government officials have responded with infrastructure upgrades, including road widening, structural demolitions to improve visibility, and the erection of additional barricades to deter heavy vehicles from student-populated zones. However, reports indicate that some barriers were temporarily removed for ongoing construction works, potentially contributing to the vulnerability exposed in this crash. Authorities have vowed to prosecute individuals involved in dismantling safety measures for extortion from drivers.
NAUS has placed the onus squarely on Dangote Cement Plc, demanding immediate investment in simulator-based driver training, vehicle black boxes for real-time monitoring, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives like rumble strips along the Akungba-Akoko route. The association insists the company must cover all medical bills for the injured, provide compensation to bereaved families, and fund burials for the deceased as a bare minimum of restitution.
Broader calls from NAUS extend to federal intervention, urging mandates for community-led oversight committees to enforce compliance among haulage firms operating near universities across Nigeria. Such measures, proponents argue, could prevent future incidents in high-risk areas like Ondo State, where student transport and pedestrian traffic intersect with industrial logistics daily. Advocacy groups highlight that overloading practices not only exacerbate brake failures but also strain Nigeria’s ageing road networks.
In a show of solidarity, NAUS national executives plan hospital visits to the survivors and condolence calls on affected families during their Akungba-Akoko stay. The delegation will also conduct on-site assessments to document the accident’s full impact, feeding into a comprehensive report for submission to both state and federal transport ministries. This hands-on approach underscores NAUS’s role in amplifying student voices on campus safety amid rising concerns over industrial encroachments.
Comr. Dr. Meshach Anthony Nwankwo, NAUS Deputy National President for National and Campus Affairs, described the crash as “an affront to the sanctity of life and the pursuit of knowledge,” vowing to “elevate student voices and forge systemic reforms that safeguard our campuses.” He emphasised that “enough lives have been sacrificed on the altar of negligence,” calling for an end to complacency in truck safety protocols.
The peaceful demonstration, set to commence shortly in Akungba-Akoko, is expected to draw hundreds of students and residents, focusing on non-violent advocacy for policy shifts in road safety, corporate ethics, and educational protection.
Updates on the protests and investigations will follow as events unfold.
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