After Multiple Accidents, Borno Govt, NAF Move To Reopen Airport Road

Following multiple accidents that have claimed lives along Nigerian Air Force Base road in Maiduguri, the Borno State governor, Babangana Umara Zulum has appealed to the residents of old airport to remain calm and law abiding promising that the government will look into the possibility of working with the Nigerian Airforce and the military to reopen the road.

Zulum stated this at the scene of a fatal accident that occurred along the barricaded Airforce base road that claimed more than one life and left many injured.

Eyewitnesses testified before the governor that more than 50 accidents had occurred on the road in the past years due to its closure, and appealed to the governor to look into the possibility of reopening the dual lane.

Another eyewitness said the current accident occurred at about 4:50pm Monday evening at the NAF Base gate on Kano Road, Maiduguri, which involved a Hummer bus with full passengers and a tricycle ( Keke Napep ) carrying three passengers, adding that the drivers were unconscious with head injuries,  while one person died even as two female passengers had multiple fractures.

Narrating how the incident occurred in a message obtained by LEADERSHIP, the source said, “Tears are still running from my eyes as I am typing this message. A serious accident ever seen just happened in front of me today at about 4:50pm at the NAF Base gate along Kano road Maiduguri, Borno State capital. “The accident involved Hummer Bus with full passengers and Keke Napep carrying three passengers and driver,  the accident caused death and severe injuries.  I had parked and rendered assistance as usual. The drivers are unconscious as they had head injuries, the two women also had multiple fractures.

“On this road, accidents used to happen on a daily basis. Therefore, we call and appeal to the state government and all relevant authorities to stand and take urgent action on the situation by coming to our rescue to open this road closed by NAF over a decade. This is the only entrance to Maiduguri, but it has become a death trap, the danger caused as a result of the shutdown of the other length of the road is worse than Boko Haram itself.

“We don’t know why the Nigerian Air Force still doesn’t want to open this road; we all know that the Boko Haram saga has become history. The number of people dying in accidents on the road daily are in thousands and it has crippled many. Are we all going to die before the road will be open? Enough is enough!

“So we advise as concern citizens; let NAF reopen this road as a matter of urgency ;  Let them move to their permanent site at Auno and allow people to live before their natural death  is cut short ; Let them close this gate and use their other entrance inside the Airport,” the source by name Comrade Umar Mukhtar said.