Former Minister of Water Resources, Barrister Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has called for urgent measures to improve highway safety across Nigeria following the tragic death of nine indigenes of Yabo Local Government Area in Sokoto State.

Shagari stressed that preserving human lives must remain a national priority, warning that the rising number of fatal road accidents on the nation’s highways demands immediate attention from both government authorities and road users.

The former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) made the appeal while expressing profound grief over the deaths of the nine victims, who lost their lives in a ghastly accident along the busy Sokoto–Lagos highway while travelling in search of better economic opportunities.

In a condolence message issued through his Media Aide, Musa Ubandawaki, Shagari described the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy that has thrown the affected families, the people of Yabo, Sokoto State, and the nation into mourning.

He said the untimely deaths represented the loss of promising young lives whose dreams and aspirations were cut short by a preventable tragedy.

According to him, the incident underscores the difficult realities facing many young Nigerians who undertake long and risky journeys in pursuit of livelihood and a better future.

“The news of the death of these young sons of Yabo came to me with profound shock and deep sadness. It is a tragedy that touches the heart and leaves us all in grief,” Shagari said.

“These were individuals who set out with hopes of improving their lives and supporting their families. Sadly, destiny had a different course, and their lives were cut short in the most painful circumstances.”

He urged the bereaved families to find strength in their faith, noting that no words could adequately ease the pain of losing loved ones under such devastating circumstances.

“I share in their sorrow and pray that Almighty Allah grants them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he added.

Shagari also extended his condolences to the people and traditional leadership of Yabo Local Government Area, describing the incident as a collective tragedy that has left the entire community in mourning.

He prayed for Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the deceased, reward their good deeds, and grant them eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus.

Reaffirming his solidarity with the bereaved families, Shagari called on relevant authorities to intensify efforts toward improving road infrastructure, enforcing traffic regulations, and promoting responsible road use to reduce the alarming rate of fatal accidents across the country.

He emphasized that every preventable loss of life on Nigeria’s highways is one too many and urged all stakeholders to work together to make the nation’s roads safer for every traveler.