Ajifa Solomon Reporting by Ajifa Solomon
JOS—As the Sienna mini-bus carrying Aweng Akim approached the curve that marked the entrance of Hawan Kibo, in Riyom Local Government, Plateau State, he instinctively clutched his chest, whispering a prayer for protection. The driver, a dark-skinned man in his early fifties, carefully navigated the single-lane road, his hands steady on the wheel, despite the incessant honking and insults from impatient drivers urging him to speed up. Akim, seated in the passenger seat, knew the dangers of this stretch of road all too well. He had witnessed accidents here one too many times and had no intention of becoming another casualty.
To his right was a mammoth train of heavy-duty trucks parked in a single file on the shoulder of the lane and spilling onto the asphalt road. Drivers had to compete for whatever driving space was available, as vehicles struggled to traverse the narrow path. As the driver wheeled out of the region, Akim’s breathing rhythmised. He had survived another drive through the infamous crash corridor of Hawan Kibo.
His fears were not unfounded as statistics paint a grim picture. Between 2015 and 2019, there were 355 crashes involving 507 vehicles and 2782 people, at Hawan Kibo, according to research by geography and planning scholars, including one from the University of Jos. This amounts to an average of 71 crashes, 258 injuries and 24 deaths every year.
More recently, in October 2024, a devastating accident claimed 19 lives, including five Nigerian Air Force personnel. Crashes have become so frequent that, as Akim puts it, “We are already used to it. There is no time you pass there that you’ll not see crashed or burning cars from head-on collisions.”
The research identified numerous causes: brake failure, speed violations, reckless overtaking, and driver fatigue.
“The road is narrow because trucks are parked on the side of the road, leaving a rather narrow path for vehicles to drive through. It requires patience to navigate through it. One driver would have to pass before the other can but most drivers are not patient,” Akim told JoeyOffAir.
An aerial view of the Hawan Kibo route. Photo: Google Earth. Illustration: JoeyOffAir.
How a Government Policy Worsened the Crisis
While accidents on Hawan Kibo have long been a concern, recent government policies have worsened the situation. In a bid to decongest the bustling Jos-Bukuru metropolis, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang issued an executive order barring trucks from entering the city between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Offenders face a fine of ₦500,000 and vehicle impoundment.
Rather than easing congestion, the policy has led to an unintended crisis—heavy-duty vehicles now park along Hawan Kibo, worsening the already perilous conditions. Trucks clog the shoulders and spill onto the main lane, forcing smaller vehicles into dangerous manoeuvres.
The Hawan Kibo route is a crucial gateway between Plateau State and Southern Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Abuja. Beginning in Riyom town, it winds through steep, treacherous hills before reaching ‘Forest,’ a border community with a vast plantation of teak trees marking the Plateau-Kaduna boundary.
With no guardrails and steep drop-offs, run-off-the-road accidents are common. Just 64 kilometres from Jos, the Plateau State capital, the route is also home to the picturesque Assop Waterfall, a popular picnic spot for locals and tourists. But for many, the beauty is overshadowed by the ever-present risk of fatal crashes.
For travellers like Akim, the solution is clear: build a designated truck park. “There’s an urgent need for the Plateau State Government to build a truck park,” he said. “It will eliminate stationary vehicles on the roadside and free up space for traffic.”
A similar crisis is unfolding at Maraban Jama’a, another key transit point. Legal practitioner John Apollos recently petitioned the government over indiscriminate truck parking there, urging authorities to enforce the use of the Inland Port built during the Jonah Jang administration instead of allowing trucks to clog public roads.
“I lost a colleague in an accident involving a stationary truck just after Maraban Jama’a,” Apollos told JoeyOffAir.
Yet, the facility has been mired in setbacks. Established 17 years ago, JICD in Heipang, Barkin Ladi LGA, remains non-functional. Approved in 2006, it has faced repeated administrative and political hurdles. In 2014, the Jonah Jang administration demolished the site, and in 2021, the Plateau State Government acquired it from Duncan Maritime Ventures for ₦2.2 billion.
If completed, the JICD could generate over 5,000 jobs and serve as a critical hub for cargo movement, reducing the need for roadside truck parking.
What the Authorities Say – and What’s Still Missing
Hart Bankat, General Manager of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), dismissed claims that the Jos truck curfew was responsible for the congestion at Hawan Kibo. “Ever since I was born, there have been trucks at Hawan Kibo. It has always been a transit point for trucks. The state government is not responsible for the situation there—it’s a federal road,” he told JoeyOffAir.
However, he confirmed that the state was pushing for the federal government to dualise the road, expanding it into double lanes to ease traffic. Plans for a truck park, he revealed, were also underway.
“We’ve identified a site and secured investors for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Any moment from now, the project will kick off,” he said. When pressed for the exact location of the site, he declined to disclose details, citing ongoing government procedures.
Regarding the long-delayed inland depot, Bankart noted that the state was collaborating with the federal government to expand the depot’s runway.
“Jos has been designated an international cargo airport,” he said. “Unfortunately, because of the length of the depot’s runway, it’s not capable of carrying big things. When the runway is expanded, it will all link up with the extension of the railway corridor, which will also assist in the takeoff of the inland container depot. When trucks bring their cargo, they can just offload there or they can put them on the train that will then transport them into the town.”
Until these solutions materialise, however, commuters like Akim must continue to steel themselves for the treacherous journey through Hawan Kibo, hoping each trip won’t be their last.
