The Managing Director of the Katsina State Environmental Protection Agency (KASEPA), Alhaji Musa Lawal Ruma, has died following a fatal road accident along the Katsina–Daura highway, throwing the state government and residents into mourning.
The crash occurred on Wednesday evening, February 26, 2026, at about 6:45 p.m., near Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. According to preliminary reports, the official vehicle conveying the KASEPA boss collided with an oncoming articulated truck under circumstances that are still being investigated.
Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Katsina State, Corps Commander Aliyu Ma’aji, confirmed the incident on Thursday. He said emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after distress calls were received from motorists and local residents.
Ma’aji stated that the late managing director sustained critical injuries and was immediately evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, where medical personnel battled to save his life. He was, however, pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Two other occupants of the vehicle, including the agency’s driver and a protocol officer, survived the crash but sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, in a statement issued on February 27, 2026, through his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, described the death as a devastating loss to the state. The governor said Alhaji Ruma was a committed public servant whose leadership significantly strengthened environmental governance and sanitation standards across Katsina.
According to the statement, the late KASEPA chief had spearheaded several reforms aimed at improving waste management infrastructure, enhancing environmental monitoring, and enforcing sanitation compliance in major urban centres, including Katsina metropolis, Funtua, Malumfashi and Daura. The governor noted that his administration had relied on Ruma’s expertise in implementing policies aligned with sustainable development goals at the state level.
“Alhaji Musa Lawal Ruma served Katsina State with dedication, humility and integrity. His contributions to environmental protection and public health reforms will remain part of his enduring legacy,” the governor said, while extending condolences to the bereaved family, the management and staff of KASEPA, and the people of Ruma town in Batsari Local Government Area, where the deceased hailed from.
Colleagues within the agency described the late managing director as disciplined and reform-oriented. Senior officials said he recently oversaw the rollout of a statewide sanitation compliance audit and had initiated consultations with local government councils to strengthen grassroots environmental awareness campaigns.
Community leaders in Batsari and Dutsin-Ma Local Government Areas also expressed shock over the incident, noting that the Katsina–Daura highway has recorded multiple accidents in recent months, particularly involving heavy-duty trucks. They called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved road safety measures along the corridor.
The FRSC confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the collision, including whether speeding, mechanical failure, or poor visibility may have contributed to the crash. Corps Commander Ma’aji urged motorists to adhere strictly to traffic rules and exercise caution, especially during evening travel.
Funeral prayers for the late Alhaji Musa Lawal Ruma are scheduled to take place on Friday, February 28, 2026, in his hometown in Batsari Local Government Area, in accordance with Islamic rites.
The death of the KASEPA managing director marks another significant loss for the Katsina State public service and has reignited broader concerns about road safety on major highways in northwestern Nigeria.
