Uyo Street Trading Turns Fatal: UCCDA’s Warning Ignored Before Nung Oku Accident

A tragic accident at Nung Oku Roundabout, Uyo, has once again highlighted the dangers of street trading in high-traffic areas.

Just a day earlier, on Thursday around 4 p.m., the Chairman of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA), Hon. Anietie Eka, and his team had visited the roundabout to warn traders against the risks of selling by the roadside. This sensitization exercise is part of an ongoing city-wide campaign targeting high-risk areas such as Ibom Plaza, Ekom Iman Junction, Ikot Akpan Abia, and others.

While some traders complied, others ignored the directive. Tragically, on Friday evening, a Toyota Corolla lost control and crashed into the roundabout, killing several people. Among the victims was the popular local food vendor widely known as “Mma Akara”, along with other traders.

This heartbreaking incident reinforces the urgent need to discourage street trading in Uyo and other major Nigerian cities. Beyond obstructing traffic and endangering road users, roadside trading places sellers and buyers directly in harm’s way.

Authorities are once again urging residents, traders, and community leaders to support the “No Street Trading” campaign to prevent further avoidable loss of lives.