By Habibullah Temako
It was one dismal Monday morning when the highway opened its day with a hazardous mix of speeding motorists, veering cyclists and vulnerable pedestrians, alongside Faculty of Law, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto.
Then dris Yahaya, a 300-Level student, was spotted standing at one side of the road, wondering how to exercise thoroughfares with caution while crossing a highway that has no safety measure within the faculty to cushion bike and vehicle users’ excessive speed.
As he advanced readily to cross over, and almost took some inches halfway to the road, a vehicle sped up from behind which nearly knocked him down. Idris became instantly dreaded with shock of fright, and started imagining the fatality of the accident that could have just occurred out of the driver’s reckless ride
“heyyy! vehicle on speed!! Don’t cross yet, Inālillahi” a voice cried out from back, cautioned Idris. According to him, that was what saved him from being knocked despite the fact that he was extra vigilant, too, by looking out before crossing. To that effect, his thoughts lingered over the incident with the suggestion that speed signs should be provided in that area.
“As a law student, I have concerns about the absence of speed bumps near our faculty highway,” he continued, “without speed bumps or signs, I’d rate the speed of vehicles on this road as potentially hazardous for the fact that many drivers seem to speed up when they know there are no speed control measures in place.
“In consequence, this put many of us, especially from that faculty, at imminent danger because I recalled some days back crossing the road. I checked left and right before crossing, but a car suddenly sped towards me at a rate that made it clear I would’ve been hit if I’d proceeded, thanks to a bystander whose voice from behind cautioned me not to cross yet.”
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), speed humps (bumps) are a useful method for reducing vehicular speeds. The FHWA guide lists evidence-based Crash Reduction Factors, which give the expected decrease in collisions resulting from a specific traffic calming measure.
Such measures include installing sidewalks, traffic signals, flashing beacons, and more. Speed humps have a Crash Reduction Factor (CRF) of 50, indicating that there is a 50% expected decrease in pedestrian involved collisions resulting from their installation.
Accordingly, a recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the total number of road traffic crashes in Nigeria 2024 was 2,662, with a total number of 3,952 vehicles that were involved in road traffic crashes, which were all resulted from speed violation and non-compliance with traffic regulations and absence of speed bumps where they are extremely necessary.
More Victims
Usman Bashar, a 200-level Primary Education student recounted his experience on crossing the highway as fatally terrifying. He stated that he encountered with a bike that almost jam him when he was about to cross over in a hurry to catch up late hours lecture at Faculty of Law.
“Usually, most of our lectures are held in faculty of law, and there was this particular day that I nearly collided with a bike man when I was rushing out to cross over to the other end to the faculty. If not Allah intervention, I would’ve been run down by this bike looking at the rate with which this bike was speeding,” he recalled.
Bashar added that the absence of speed bumps adjacent to the faculty gate gives motorists and bike men to speed up without reasonable care for other road users such as vulnerable pedestrians like staff and students. He pleaded that the school management should installed speed bumps near the faculty gate in order to create safer environment and reduce potentially accidental risks.
For Zakariyau Suleiman, a 100-Level English student, his own harrowing experience was when he was going to Jumu’ah prayer while coming from Benji hostel. Suleiman narrated that the road was bustling with motorists at excessive speeds, for which he could not help but to wonder about the absence of speed bumps that would enable pedestrians to cross over peacefully.
“Ordinarily, I have a fear of crossing just any busy roads, perhaps because I came from a village. Especially highway roads with no “go-slow” put pedestrians at danger. That was how I was almost hit by a bike at law village. It’s only God that saved me because I was unaware of its uncontrollable speeds after I already crossed midway while heading to Jumu’ah,” he shared.
More Tales
Abdulrahaman Olalekan, a 300-Level law student, claimed that crossing that road is like a ritual of fear. He said when there are no vehicles in sight his heart skips beating when crossing it. According to him, “I spend several minutes scanning both ends like an investigating officer before daring to take a step. And when vehicles are approaching? I would rather pause than put my life in the hands of reckless riders.”
Olalekan further suggested that the installation of well-spaced speed bumps closed to the faculty’s gate is a necessary first step. He also stated that visible and strategically placed traffic warning signs should be introduced to caution motorists and riders.
“This is not just about infrastructure, it’s about protecting lives and fostering a safe academic environment,” he added.
Expert Warning
Mr. Muhammad Aminu, a public Road Safety Officer with a long-standing experience on traffic and highway rules and regulations, explained in details on the absence of speed bumps and its effects particularly near schools and colleges. With far-reaching implications, he stated that the absence of speed bumps or speed limit signs where expected increases mortality rate and avoidable injuries to road users.
According to him, “The absence of speed bumps near schools and colleges poses serious safety risks. Higher speeds in these areas increase the likelihood of accidents involving students, pedestrians, and vehicles, with children and young adults being particularly vulnerable to injuries from reckless driving.
“In addition, the potential consequences of neglecting safety measures are severe, which includes injuries and fatalities. Authorities may also face liability concerns for failing to protect students and pedestrians.”
In an exclusive interview on April 20, 2025, the Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Umar Aliyu, acknowledged the press’s observation regarding the absence of speed bumps in that area. He stated that the issue would be brought to the attention of the relevant authorities, who would assess the suitability of installing speed bumps in the area.
Professor Umar Aliyu emphasized, “Speed bumps can’t be installed without consulting the relevant authorities. They’ll determine the most suitable locations. I’ll reach out to them to deliberate on this matter, and we’ll proceed accordingly.”