A heavy advertising billboard collapsed onto a tricycle during Wednesday’s torrential rain in Aba, Abia State, killing 27-year-old Mr. Destiny Uguru and injuring eight others who were seeking shelter from the downpour.
According to PUNCH Metro, the tragedy occurred around the Aba Salad Market junction on the Aba-Owerri Road when strong winds uprooted the five-year-old, poorly constructed signage.
Witness Mr. Chinedu Nwaibo, who narrowly escaped, recounted:
“When the rain came with wind on Wednesday, we took refuge inside our shanty, but some preferred staying by their tricycles. Suddenly, the billboard fell and crushed their vehicle. Seven were injured, and my brother Destiny died instantly.”
Mr. Uguru, an indigene of Izzi in Ebonyi State, left behind a heavily pregnant widow and two young children. His body was deposited at a local mortuary, while the injured were rushed to Abia State University Teaching Hospital, where five remain under care and three have since been discharged.
The MD/CEO of the Abia State Structures for Signage and Advertising Agency, Mrs. Victoria Onwubiko, visited the hospital and confirmed that the state government will cover all medical bills for the victims. She acknowledged the billboard’s faulty construction:
“The board was erected about five years ago without proper technical oversight. Going forward, we will conduct structural inspections and demand technical drawings before any billboard can stand.”
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Onwubiko added that any unstable signage must be removed, and future installations will require on-site evaluation by qualified engineers. The government’s swift intervention aims to prevent similar disasters and reassure the public of enhanced safety measures.
The incident has reignited calls for strict enforcement of building codes and regular inspections of outdoor advertising structures across Nigeria. Advocacy groups stress that negligence in signage construction poses a deadly risk, especially during the rainy season when windstorms are common.
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