Behind the wheel: The pain, pressure, and peril of Nigeria’s truck drivers

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Transcript

00:00Every day truck drivers hit the road long before sunrise. They carry everything we depend on. Food, fuel, medicine and more.

00:11But behind the wheels are real people. Many of them tired, overworked and under constant pressure.

00:19Recently, Nigeria has seen a rise in truck related accident and while it's easy to point fingers at drivers, the reality is more countless.

00:31Many drivers say they walk exhausting shifts with little rest, often pushed by tight deadlines and poor road conditions.

00:42Fatigue, they argue, is one of the biggest causes of accidents, leaving them vulnerable to mistakes that can cost lives.

00:52Their side of the story highlights a system that demands more than the human body can safely handle.

00:59But not all accidents can be blamed on stress or the system.

01:05Some drivers admit that recklessness, substance use and even quick tempers behind the wheels contribute to the dangers on Nigeria's highways.

01:14In several cases, investigations have revealed drivers speeding, ignoring traffic rules or driving under the influence.

01:24This means the risks are not only systemic sometimes.

01:28They are personal choices that put others in harm's way.

01:32For pedestrians and other road users, these lapses can be deadly.

01:38One wrong move, one reckless decision and lives are lost.

01:45Families are left grieving and communities scarred by tragedies that could have been prevented.

01:50Truck drivers keep the country moving, but many are doing it while running empty physically, mentally and emotionally.

02:01At the same time, accountability must also fall on those who drive recklessly or put others at risk.

02:09Accidents don't just happen because someone made a mistake.

02:13Sometimes, they happen because the system is broken and sometimes because of poor choices behind the wheel.

02:23If Nigeria wants safer roads, it must take better care of the people who spend their lives on them,

02:30while also enforcing stronger checks to ensure drivers themselves are fit for the journey.

02:36Behind every delivery is a driver.

02:40Behind every driver, a story.

02:42It's time we start listening and demanding responsibility on all sides.