Transport workers under the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), along with concerned community members, held a peaceful protest on Wednesday in response to the removal of speed breakers along the Oko-Olowo section of the Ilorin–Jebba Expressway in Kwara State.
The protest was triggered by the dismantling of the speed-reducing structures by a federal government contractor currently rehabilitating the expressway. The speed breakers had originally been installed by the Kwara State Government to curb the frequent accidents on that stretch of road.
Protesters carried placards with messages such as “Reinstall Speed Breakers Now,” “Our Lives Matter on Oko-Olowo Road,” and “Stop the Killings on Our Roads,” expressing alarm over the increase in deadly accidents since the structures were removed.
Speaking during the demonstration, RTEAN Kwara State Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Olayinka Onikijipa, alongside his NURTW counterpart, Alhaji Abdulrasaq Ariwoola, demanded the immediate reinstatement of the speed breakers. Onikijipa stressed that the unions could no longer stay silent while lives were being lost due to what he called avoidable carelessness.
He pointed out that it was the intervention of the transport unions that led to the initial installation of the speed breakers by the state government, even though the road falls under federal control.
Onikijipa urged federal authorities to act urgently, calling for not only the reinstallation of the speed control structures but also the inclusion of proper safety measures in all ongoing and future road projects.
He also criticized the decision to remove the speed breakers without stakeholder consultation, calling it a reckless and dangerous move that endangered commuters.
“The removal of those speed breakers wasn’t just a mistake—it was a grave error that risks countless lives,” he said. “They were installed to address a serious safety concern. Taking them out without engaging those most affected is completely unacceptable.”
Onikijipa warned that failure to address the issue would lead to wider mobilization by the unions across the state.
“This protest is not political, nor is it aimed at disruption. It is a genuine plea to protect lives. We are committed to peaceful advocacy, but if our concerns continue to be ignored, we will have no choice but to escalate our actions. Enough is enough,” he concluded.