A conductor died lifting low wires for a diverted truck on Delta’s Ibusa Road.
Protesters, led by activist Harrison Gwamnishu, demand urgent repair of the failed Asaba-Onitsha Expressway.
A tragic incident unfolded along Ibusa Road in Delta State after a truck conductor was electrocuted while trying to lift low-hanging electric wires to allow a diverted vehicle to pass. The truck had veered off its regular route due to the complete collapse of a section of the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway near Ezenei Junction.
The expressway, a major commercial artery linking Delta and Anambra states, has continued to decay despite numerous government assurances of rehabilitation. Its worsening condition has turned daily commuting into a nightmare, stranding motorists for hours and crippling businesses dependent on the corridor.
The incident has reignited public anger, prompting a peaceful protest on Tuesday morning led by human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu and a coalition of Delta youths. Demonstrators converged on the failed portion of the expressway, demanding immediate intervention from both the federal and Delta State governments.
Carrying placards with bold inscriptions such as “Fix Our Roads Now,” “Stop the Empty Promises,” and “Our Lives Matter Too,” the protesters called for urgent repairs to avert further tragedies.
Speaking to journalists at the protest site, Gwamnishu condemned what he described as longstanding government indifference to the plight of road users.
“Does this concern those in government? No,” he said. “They fly private jets and planes daily while the common people risk their lives on failed roads. The suffering is unbearable.”
In a symbolic act of defiance and to spotlight the dire state of the infrastructure, Gwamnishu also announced plans to celebrate his upcoming birthday July 17 at the failed section of the road.
“This is no longer just about infrastructure. It’s about human dignity and survival,” he added.
The Asaba-Onitsha Expressway is vital not only for inter-state travel but also for the movement of goods and services across southeastern Nigeria. Its current state poses serious safety risks, especially as alternative routes remain limited or equally deteriorated.
Despite several inspection visits by federal officials and repeated public assurances, visible progress on repairs has been minimal. For many residents and road users, the tragedy on Ibusa Road is a grim reminder of the cost of neglect.
Local authorities are yet to officially respond to the incident or the protesters’ demands at the time of filing this report.
