In a critical move for road safety, the Zamfara State chapter of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCON) has issued a formal call for the establishment of a Joint Taskforce Committee. Their urgent goal is to eradicate the perilous and illegal practice known as “mixed loading,” a major contributor to fatal road accidents across Nigeria.
What is ‘Mixed Loading’ and Why is it So Dangerous?
Mixed loading is the hazardous transportation of incompatible cargo types in a single vehicle. This typically involves the combination of passengers, live animals (like cattle), general goods, and—in the most extreme and deadly cases—flammable fuels such as petrol. The risks are multifaceted:
- Increased Fire Hazard: Fuel vapors can ignite from a spark, a cigarette, or engine heat, leading to catastrophic explosions, especially in confined spaces with panicked passengers and animals.
- Unstable Loads & Driver Distraction: Live animals shift weight unpredictably, destabilizing the vehicle. Their noise and movement also severely distract the driver.
- Impeded Escape: In a crash or fire, passengers are trapped by cargo and animals, preventing a swift exit and turning a collision into a mass casualty event.
- Disease Transmission: The close proximity of humans and animals facilitates the spread of zoonotic diseases.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has consistently identified mixed loading as a primary cause of high-fatality accidents, a fact underscored by Zamfara FRSC Sector Commander, Mr. Aliyu Maaji, who notes it “records the highest death in auto crash.”
A Unified Front: The Proposed Joint Taskforce Solution
AUFCON State Chairman, Mr. Aminu Garba, emphasized that while his union is actively fighting the menace, a siloed approach is insufficient. “We alone cannot find a lasting solution,” he stated. The proposed remedy is a coordinated, multi-agency Joint Taskforce Committee led by the FRSC.
This committee would bring together all critical stakeholders, each addressing the problem from their area of authority:
- Amalgamated Union of Foodstuffs and Cattle Dealers (AUFCON): To educate and regulate its members on safe livestock transport protocols.
- Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) & Transport Owners (NARTO): To enforce compliance among drivers and vehicle owners at parks and terminals.
- Zamfara Road Traffic Agency (ZAROTA) & FRSC: To provide legal authority for roadside enforcement, arrests, and prosecution of violators.
As Mr. Garba explained, this structure allows each stakeholder “to deal with peculiar aspects” of the problem, from source to highway. The taskforce’s mandate would include special patrols, public sensitization campaigns, and strict enforcement of existing traffic laws that prohibit mixed loading.
Beyond Enforcement: The Root Causes and Economic Pressures
While enforcement is crucial, experts note that mixed loading is often a symptom of deeper economic pressures. For many drivers and small traders, combining loads is a risky shortcut to maximize a single trip’s revenue, offsetting high fuel costs and low profit margins. A truly sustainable solution, therefore, must also involve:
- Economic Incentives: Exploring subsidies or supported schemes for dedicated cargo and passenger transport.
- Infrastructure Investment: Providing adequate and affordable specialized vehicles for livestock and fuel transport.
- Grassroots Education: Continuous community engagement to shift public perception and create peer pressure against the practice.
The FRSC’s Commander Maaji confirmed that the corps is intensifying community engagement and has plans to establish a Taskforce Committee on compliance, a move AUFCON has pledged full support for.
The Path Forward
The call from Zamfara’s cattle dealers highlights a critical intersection of economic activity and public safety. Ending mixed loading requires moving beyond periodic crackdowns to a sustained, collaborative strategy that combines stringent enforcement with an understanding of the economic realities that drive the practice. The formation of the proposed Joint Taskforce Committee represents a vital first step toward safeguarding Nigeria’s roads and preventing needless tragedies. The success of this initiative in Zamfara could serve as a vital model for other states grappling with this deadly challenge.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
