Falling tree kills motorcyclist in Uyo, sparking worries about tree management

A young commercial motorcyclist lost his life when a tree fell on Abak Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday. This incident has raised serious concerns about how the government manages old and dangerous trees on major roads in the state capital.

The accident happened near the Cultural Centre during heavy rain in the early hours of Thursday. Witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES that the motorcyclist was heading out for his daily work when the tree hit him around 7 a.m.

Videos reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES showed a man lying dead next to the fallen tree, with his motorcycle beside him.

However, the police provided a more careful description of the event. They stated that their officers found a fallen tree and heard about a motorcyclist who might have been injured, but neither the victim nor the motorcycle was at the scene.

Timfon John, the police spokeswoman in Akwa Ibom, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that patrol officers saw the fallen tree at about 9:30 a.m.

"The Command is aware of the incident. On 13 August, at about 9:30 a.m., patrol operatives observed a fallen tree blocking part of Abak Road by the Cultural Centre, Uyo," John said.

"Preliminary information indicated that an unidentified motorcyclist rode into the fallen tree and sustained injuries. However, the victim and motorcycle were not found at the scene."

Witnesses at the scene told PREMIUM TIMES that the motorcyclist had died and that police took the body away around 9 a.m. By the time PREMIUM TIMES arrived at the site later in the afternoon, the body was no longer there.

Two men were cutting the fallen tree into smaller pieces while a police officer managed traffic around the blockage.

Two men cutting the fallen tree off the road

The men informed PREMIUM TIMES that the police had hired them to clear the tree from the road.

Condition of the fallen tree

PREMIUM TIMES noticed visible signs of decay around the trunk of the fallen tree. This raises questions about whether anyone could have spotted its poor condition before it fell.

Visible signs of decay around the trunk of the fallen tree

There was also an older tree nearby that showed signs of decay.

Nearby tree showing signs of ageing and early stage of decay

The incident happened during heavy rain, but witnesses said there was no strong wind when the tree fell. The state of the tree is concerning because many roads in Uyo have old trees with long branches hanging over the streets.

PREMIUM TIMES saw similar aged trees along Abak Road, Idoro Road, Stadium Road, and Aka Nung Udoe Road.

Similar aged trees along Aka-Nung Udoe road

Mfon Udeme, who lives on Abak Road, told PREMIUM TIMES that this incident should push the authorities to take tree management more seriously.

"This unfortunate incident is also a reminder for relevant authorities to inspect and properly manage trees along major roads, especially during heavy rain and storms, to help prevent avoidable tragedies," Mr Udeme said.

A journalist, Esio Godspeed, also expressed concerns on his Facebook page about the state of trees along major roads in the city.

"What makes this particularly painful is that this may not be an isolated concern. Some trees along our major roads have become dangerously overgrown, with heavy or weak branches hanging over roads and pedestrian routes," he wrote.

He called for immediate inspection and trimming of dangerous trees, particularly along Abak, Atiku, Idoro, and Stadium roads.

"A tree should never become a death trap," Godspeed said.

Government budget for tree management

This incident has also put a spotlight on the state government’s budget for forestry and tree management equipment. Under the Ministry of Environment, the 2026 approved budget includes ₦400 million for forestry equipment, like three clearing/ploughing tractors, three tree-pruning/felling tractors, and two pruning machines.

This allocation shows that the government knows the need for tools to manage trees and vegetation. But past budget provisions raise concerns about whether this will actually happen.

In the 2025 approved budget, ₦200 million was set aside for forestry equipment, including gear for pruning and felling trees. This was later removed in the 2025 revised budget.

It is still unclear if the ₦400 million in the 2026 budget has been released and if the equipment has been bought and used.

A senior official from the Ministry of Environment, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the ministry has often asked for funding to address dangerous trees in Uyo.

"We are simply helpless. We have repeatedly asked for money to prune trees in Uyo and remove old ones and plant new ones, but the governor has not released funds for it," the official said.

The official added that the ministry cannot carry out this work without money.

"If money were released for the equipment or to hire someone to prune those trees, that man would never have died. So, do not blame us. Blame the governor," the official said.

Akwa Ibom State has enough money, as it is oil-rich. PREMIUM TIMES reported weeks ago that Governor Umo Eno’s administration has received ₦2.934 trillion in revenue over 38 months.

Who is responsible?

This incident raises questions about whether the Akwa Ibom government has identified and managed trees that could harm road users in Uyo. It also raises concerns about whether there is a proper assessment of roadside trees.

After several unanswered calls, PREMIUM TIMES sent a message to the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Environment, Nsikak Ekong, via WhatsApp. They wanted to know if the ministry knew about the fallen tree's condition, if it had been inspected before, and what actions were in place to identify dangerous trees.

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The newspaper also asked the ministry why the ₦200 million for forestry equipment was removed from the revised 2025 budget and whether the ₦400 million in the 2026 budget has been released, with the equipment bought and used.

They further asked if the ministry keeps a list or risk assessment of old and decaying trees along major roads. They wanted to know what actions would be taken after Thursday's incident.

Despite reading the message since Thursday evening, Ekong has neither replied nor acknowledged it.

This incident raises an important question: are Uyo’s roadside trees treated like public infrastructure needing regular checks and maintenance? Or do authorities only act after a tree falls, blocks a road, or causes injury?

For residents and road users, Thursday’s event has shown the dangers of ignoring potentially hazardous trees.