Despite directives of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) that trucks are strictly for cargoes, individuals continue to board these heavy duty vehicles, often hiding in between goods, in the hope of reaching their destinations at cheaper cost.

In March 2024, barely weeks after the FRSC directive, a trailer carrying both cement and more than a dozen informal passengers overturned along the Mokwa-Jebba Road, killing five people and injuring several others.

The victims, according to eyewitnesses, were mostly casual workers who had followed their goods from Oyo to Niger State.

A senior official of FRSC told The Guardian: “This is not an isolated case, our patrols frequently stop trucks with unauthorised passengers onboard but enforcement is difficult when the practice is normalised, even by market associations and logistics intermediaries.”

In February 2025, a truck accident in Kano resulted in 23 deaths and 48 injuries said Kano FRSC spokesperson, Umar Matazu. The crash, which occurred under the Muhammadu Buhari interchange flyover, involved a tractor trailer that was reportedly overloaded with goods and passengers. There were 71 people in the accident, including 67 adults and four children.

Matazu added that an investigation found that the driver lost control owing to over speeding and veered off the road with the truck somersaulting.

According to the data from the FRSC, it was revealed that in 2024 alone, over 860 truck related crashes were recorded nationwide. Of these, at least 170 involved passengers, many of whom were either accompanying goods or traveling to find work.

The consequences are often fatal. Unlike buses, trucks are not designed to carry people. They lack seating, protection and basic amenities. In most cases, passengers sit on top of cargo, cling to side rails, or crouch under tarpaulin fully exposed to the elements and accidents.

Economic hardship has made formal transport unaffordable for many Nigerians. Interstate buses cost between N10, 000 and N25, 000 depending on the distance, while a ride on a cargo truck could be negotiated for low price or even free, depending on relationships with the driver.

A truck driver, Abdullahi Sani, said that passengers who accompany their cargo often do so out of fear, not because they want to. “People follow their goods not because they want to; they follow because they have no choice. They are scared of theft or delay.”

Sani, who has been in the business for more than a decade, explained that in many parts of the country, especially when goods are being moved across long distances or into rural areas, traders are often unwilling to entrust their valuable stock to a driver they barely know.

According to him, it’s not unusual for traders to insist that someone, a relative or trusted aide travels with the truck to keep an eye on the goods from departure to destination.

“Some traders even insist that a relative must go with the goods, they don’t trust that they will arrive safely or on time if nobody is there to watch.”

He noted that these arrangements are sometimes informal and based on verbal agreements. Drivers, especially those who do not work for large logistics firms with formal procedures, find themselves caught between obeying the law and satisfying the expectations of their clients.

“It’s not like I enjoy carrying people; in fact, it can be risky for me too. But if I refuse, some customers may take their business elsewhere. They want to feel secure, and sometimes that means putting someone on the truck.”

He also pointed to past incidents where cargo had gone missing or been tampered with, causing significant financial losses for traders. In such cases, the trader’s representative onboard served as both a deterrent and a form of insurance.

“Even if nothing bad happens, their presence is reassurance, and when the goods arrive safely, they sign off, and everyone is at peace.

“Until traders can be sure that their goods will be handled with full responsibility from start to finish, they will keep sending people to follow them,” Sani said.

He suggested that better tracking systems, stronger accountability from transport firms, and more transparency in delivery logistics could reduce the pressure on drivers like him to accommodate non-drivers in cargo compartments.

“If there is a way to track goods and make sure they get there on time, and in full, I don’t think anyone will want to follow a truck again, but until then, we will keep seeing this not because it’s allowed, but because people are afraid.”

Another driver, Donatus Onuegbu, told The Guardian that he occasionally carries people alongside his cargo but not for commercial purposes. “Yes, I do carry people but it is for assistance, sometimes I might not be able to handle the items alone, or the owners may not have anyone to help them. So I go along with people to help.”

He explained that the individuals he carries are usually connected to the items being moved and not strangers picked up randomly.

“You don’t expect me to pick someone on the road that I don’t know. For safety precautions, I need to be careful because some of the items I move are valuable. If anything goes missing, I won’t be able to account for someone I just picked up without knowing them.”

Onuegbu said he was not aware that carrying passengers regardless of reason is illegal under FRSC regulations.

He, however, pointed out that to make it easier for truck drivers to comply with transport laws, there needs to be a proper engagement between regulatory agencies and those operating within the haulage sector.

“I think it has to do with more engagement with a lot of drivers and people involved in logistics, a lot of us are not really aware of the safety precautions or what FRSC regulations actually say. So if you engage with the people involved, it makes it easier for everyone and for one not to break the rules.”

Despite laws in place, enforcement often falls short and drivers either out of ignorance or necessity continue practices that endanger lives.

In 2023, the FRSC launched a renewed campaign to end the illegal practice following several fatal crashes involving cargo trucks carrying human passengers. Although section 42 of the FRSC regulations prohibits carrying passengers in cargo vehicles, enforcement is often weak or inconsistent.

Truck drivers and union members argue that many security checkpoints turn blind eyes in exchange for bribes. Others say there is no point in strict enforcement without viable alternatives.

A union leader said: “it is not enough to say don’t do it, you need to provide alternatives safe truck parks, cargo monitoring systems or even subsidies for low-income travelers.”

On April 8, 2025, Northern group called on its members to be wary of putting passengers on interstate trucks meant for transporting animals and farm produce to other states.

This, they say, is against the road safety regulations that have been instituted by the government. But apart from carrying goods as noted, they also pick up passengers from one state to another.

The group stated the security risks involved in bringing unidentified persons into the state. They called for a total ban on trucks caught with people hanging as they believe this will help reduce road traffic crashes on the roads.

According to the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said that the recent surge in migration from the North to the South and vice versa had led to an increase in the number of people seeking to travel long distances in often unsafe conditions.

Ogungbemide said the trend of migration, fuelled by various socio-economic factors, created high demand for transportation, leading to an increase in mix loading practices by truck drivers.

He stated: “The incident of mix loading like we call it in FRSC is a situation where trucks meant for goods or animals carry human beings, items and animals at the same time. If you look at the trend, it is this idea of migrating from the Northern to Southern part of the country en masse that is really promoting this situation.

“This trend started around four years ago and we started recording high fatalities as a result of crashes involving mix loaded trucks. This is because the movement of the trucks or a particular vehicle always happens during the night and when there are crashes, emergency response and calls become an issue.

“Also, transporters, seeking to maximize profits, load their vehicles with a combination of human beings and goods thereby putting lives at risk. This is a clear violation of existing traffic laws, including the National Road Traffic Regulations and Road worthiness laws which prohibit the carriage of human beings in vehicles designed for goods or animals.”

The FRSC spokesman noted that the trend was not only hazardous but also illegal, and had resulted in a significant number of fatalities and injuries on Nigerian roads.

He cited several instances of mix loading-related crashes, including a recent incident in which more than 50 persons lost their lives.

According to him, the FRSC is working tirelessly to address the issue through a combination of enforcement, public education, and community engagement.

“This menace has made the corps come up with a series of interventions to assist in addressing the devastating trend. Some of the interventions include the corps setting up a task force involving the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, police and army to curb the menace. But one thing we have understood is that there is no level of enforcement we put in place that can really assist as long as most of these vehicles move during the night. So, the emphasis now is to adopt the idea of town hall meetings and public education and that is taking the information to the grass-roots and getting the traditional rulers as well as other stakeholders involved. This is to enable them to know the implications of being loaded along with goods and animals.’’

Speaking further, Mr Ogungbemide said that there were standing rules embedded in the NRTR and Road Worthiness laws.

According to him, some of the rules include Regulation 95 NRTR 2012 (as amended), which states that no person other than the driver or two other persons, who shall be seated in the driver’s cabin may be carried on any goods carrying vehicle. No other person shall be carried on the goods compartment on any goods carrying vehicle.’’

Mr Ogungbemide called on transporters to adhere to safety regulations and avoid practising mix loading. He urged the public to be aware of the risks associated with mix loading and to report any instances of the practice to the authorities.

He added that the corps was committed to reducing the cases of mix loading-related crashes on Nigerian roads and ensuring the safety of all road users.

A transport logistics expert, Ebenezer Ayeni attributed the continued practice of illegal passenger-carrying in cargo trucks to operational pressures, weak regulatory enforcement, and an industry culture that often overlooks safety in pursuit of efficiency.

Ayeni explained that while cargo trucks are designed to carry goods and at most, two or three personnel in the cabin the practice of allowing multiple individuals to accompany consignments is widespread, especially in sectors transporting perishable goods from northern to southern Nigeria.

According to him, “depending on the kind of asset or goods, if you’re a flag bearer carrying a container, you might not be able to travel with the container. But the most common ones are open-body trucks that can stack tomatoes, yams, basically food or perishable goods. It is a very widespread thing in the industry because some of these trucks bring their off-loaders all the way from the North to the South.”

Ayeni added that some truck operators intentionally allow individuals to travel with the trucks under the guise of labour, but in reality, some are being informally trained to drive and often end up behind the wheel illegally during night trips.

“Ideally, the way the truck is designed, it’s meant to accommodate two people, maximum three, depending on how large the cabin is. But they use it as a means to bypass regulation. Because of the unregulated movement, sometimes they let those people drive the truck at night just to gain experience. Most of these trucks usually move at night. The FRSC and Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) would see them and turn a blind eye,” he said.

He also pointed out that drivers carry people for reasons ranging from labour and cost-cutting to security. “Sometimes due to security, there are consignments that when stopped could attract theft, so they arm themselves or carry others to protect the goods. They feel the only way to secure the goods is to carry passengers. It is an operational pressure,” he added.

Ayeni recounted an incident from his own company where a driver was caught carrying illegal migrants. “There was a time in my company when a supposed driver carried illegal people from Niger. When they got to a customs checkpoint, he had to explain where he was carrying them from and was asked to return them back to their country. The company only found out later.” He explained that most times, the driver, not the company, settles such issues on the road adding that the driver is the owner of the asset, representing the company when such an issue happens.”

He warned that unless safety and proper oversight are prioritised, the risks will persist. “If you load in any port, it’s not a safe spot to load. Some drivers do what they do out of fear of losing the asset. And in terms of regulation, get rid of those area boys and put things in order. There are a lot of checkpoints, so for them to pass through, someone must have seen them.

“We need patrol vehicles, and security operatives need to work round the clock! Not just in emergencies. When they catch drivers, they don’t sanction them properly. Once they’re released, they jump on another vehicle.”

He advocated for stricter penalties targeting the asset owners, not just the drivers. “Ideally, if there are strict regulations that when they arrest them, they impound the vehicles and let it affect the asset owners, they won’t repeat the same thing again. Fine the vehicles and waste their time in logistics, what we don’t take for granted is time. That’s the only way they’ll stop the unlawful activities.”

An Operation Coordinator, Red Star Express, Akindeji Joseph, said despite advancements in technology and growing safety concerns, illegal practices such as transporting passengers on cargo trucks continue to plague Nigeria’s logistics sector, a problem rooted in weak enforcement and lack of compliance.

He emphasised the importance of training and technological integration in the safe and efficient handling of company assets, particularly in road transport operations.

“In ensuring proper handling of company assets used for carrying out operational duties, the first approach is engaging the operatives and the handlers in various training, and these must be periodical,” he said.

Joseph noted that with the right systems in place, companies can monitor their vehicles at all times, whether in active use or parked.

“There are control mechanisms software that allow companies to monitor the activities of their assets, either in use or idle. Every company that is in the field of logistics should have the aforementioned in place.”

However, he admitted that technology and procedures alone are not enough without the right personnel to enforce them. According to him, many logistics firms in Nigeria struggle not because of a lack of infrastructure but due to poor adherence to internal guidelines.

“The only challenge I can think of is the issue of compliance. It is one thing to enforce rules; it’s another to have the right people to follow them. A lot of logistics companies in Nigeria find it difficult to thrive in the business due to lack of the right people to carry out their duties in accordance with the company standards.

Joseph suggested that improving safety in Nigeria’s freight sector would also require a shift from road-heavy transport to alternative systems like rail, especially for large-scale cargo.

“For safety and efficiency, an example is moving cargo containers by rail. This would reduce traffic congestion on our roads and the risk of accidents caused by trucks conveying the containers. Another thing is that the movement would be swift. But for the transporters, it would be bad news for them.”

He acknowledged that a transition to rail would impact the trucking business negatively in the short term but maintained that the long-term benefits in safety and efficiency far outweigh the drawbacks.

Joseph also called for stricter laws and more serious consequences for operators who flout regulations, including those who transport passengers in trucks designated for goods only.

“There should be regulations that work against such practices and non-adherence should attract serious consequences.”