Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the federal government to focus on rehabilitating Nigeria’s dilapidated roads instead of launching new projects.

Obi made this appeal in a post on X following the devastating tanker explosion on the Ilorin-Jebba expressway in Kwara State on Friday, February 28, 2025, which claimed over 60 lives.

Preliminary reports revealed that the accident involved a petrol tanker carrying 33,000 litres of fuel and a truck loaded with fertilizer. The collision triggered a fuel spill, igniting a massive fire that led to multiple fatalities.

Reacting to the tragedy, Obi emphasized that poor road infrastructure is a major factor in fatal accidents across the country.

“The tragic collision on February 28, 2025, along the Ilorin-Jebba expressway in Kwara State, which claimed over 60 lives, is a heartbreaking reminder of the urgent need to prioritize the reconstruction of existing road infrastructure across the country, improve road safety, and regulate the transportation of hazardous materials, rather than embarking on new road infrastructure that might never be completed,” Obi stated.

He decried the rising cases of road traffic accidents and urged the government to take immediate action.

“I recently visited the site in Suleja, where over 100 people were burnt—a tragedy resulting from the poor state of the roads,” Obi added, noting that he endured over three and a half hours navigating dangerous, death-trap roads on a recent trip to Kafanchan.

Extending his condolences to the victims’ families, Obi called on Nigerians to push for safer roads.

“As we mourn this loss, I extend my condolences to the families and the good people of Kwara State. May God Almighty grant eternal rest to the departed and provide strength and comfort to their grieving loved ones.“Through collective responsibility and unwavering commitment, we can prevent further senseless tragedies and work toward building a safer, more secure nation for everyone,” he concluded.