The Enugu State Ministry of Transport has officially denied reports of a road crash resulting in an inferno that allegedly claimed over 50 lives at the Ugwu Onyeama axis of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway. The ministry described these reports as completely false and misleading.
Ministry Clarifies Situation
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Odumegwu Chinwendu, on Wednesday, the ministry maintained that images being circulated as depicting Ugwu Onyeama do not represent any part of that axis. The statement emphasized that traffic is flowing freely on both sides of the expressway, with normal vehicular movement observed.
False Images Circulated
“It is important to note that the image circulating alongside the false report does not depict the Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway. The image shows silhouettes and clusters of residential buildings along the roadway, a feature that does not exist on the actual Ugwu Onyeama axis, where there are no such residential structures directly adjoining the corridor,” the spokesperson stated.
Improvements in Road Safety
The statement added that while the Ugwu Onyeama area has historically been notorious for road accidents, the infrastructural intervention of the President Bola Tinubu administration has considerably improved road safety and vehicular movement in the area.
Appeal to the Public
The ministry appealed to the public and road users to disregard the false reports and to continue cooperating with traffic and safety authorities by adhering to speed regulations and using designated lanes responsibly.
