The National President of the Abia State Law Students Association, Light C. Onyeogaziri, has commended the Abia State Government for visible improvements to road infrastructure and environmental cleanliness across the state, while raising urgent concerns about road safety practices among drivers, keke operators, and dispatch riders.
In a statement released this week, Onyeogaziri opened by acknowledging what he described as real progress under the current administration, specifically pointing to better roads and a cleaner environment as evidence of government effort. He was, however, quick to stress that road safety remains a major and largely unresolved concern across the state, noting that many drivers, keke napep operators, and other road users still do not fully understand road signs or basic traffic rules.
To illustrate the danger this creates for ordinary Abians, the ALSA president shared a recent personal account involving a friend who was almost knocked down while crossing at a zebra crossing. According to Onyeogaziri, his friend assumed the approaching vehicle would stop for him at the crossing, as traffic rules require, but the driver did not stop, narrowly avoiding a serious accident.
Drawing from that incident, Onyeogaziri issued a direct appeal to residents of Abia State not to assume that every driver on the road knows or will obey traffic signs. He emphasized that personal safety must be treated as an individual’s first responsibility, regardless of who is technically in the right. He reinforced this point with an Igbo expression, explaining that it is better to be alive than to be right, or to prove a point, a philosophy he summarized simply as safety mattering more than principle in the moment.
He went further to urge Abians to exercise patience and caution and to obey simple traffic rules even when other road users fail to do so, framing this as a practical survival strategy rather than a concession of fault.
Beyond the appeal to individual road users, Onyeogaziri also directed part of his statement at government and community leadership, pleading with them to continue and expand public education on road signs and traffic laws. He framed this as a shared responsibility, calling on all road users at the same time to remain careful at all times, rather than placing the burden solely on government enforcement or solely on pedestrians and motorists.
A specific and pointed part of his statement addressed the conduct of dispatch riders, particularly within the Umudike axis of Umuahia. Onyeogaziri called on the Abia State Government to address what he described as reckless speeding among dispatch riders in that area, warning that the consequences of inaction could be irreversible. He underscored this warning with the statement that life has no duplicate, and that one life is all anyone has, framing reckless riding in that corridor as a pressing safety issue requiring direct government attention rather than routine awareness campaigns alone.
He closed his statement with a short, repeated message built around the phrase that safety comes first and that Abia lives matter, paired with a closing prayer for the state.
Read his full statement below:
> Road Safety Reminder for Abia State
> I sincerely commend the Abia State Government for improving our roads and keeping our environment clean. These efforts show real progress.
> However, road safety is still a major concern. Many drivers, keke operators, and other road users do not fully understand road signs and traffic rules.
> Just recently, a friend of mine was almost knocked down while crossing at a zebra crossing. He believed the car would stop, but it did not.
> Dear Abians, please do not assume that every driver knows or will obey road signs. Your safety is your responsibility first. As we say: “Vum ka nma karia statement”, it is better to be alive than to be right/to prove a point.
> The truth is, staying safe matters; exercise patience, caution, and obey simple rules.
> I plead with the government and community leaders to continue teaching the public about road signs and traffic laws. I also appeal to all road users to be careful at all times.
> Finally, our beloved Abia government should address reckless speeding by dispatch riders, especially in Umuahia (Umudike axis). Life has no duplicate. One life is all we have.
> Safety first. Abia lives matter.
> God bless Abia State.
>
> Light C Onyeogaziri
> National President
> Abia State Law Students Association (ALSA)
