White foam on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway has set off a safety probe in Nigeria, after the unusual substance appeared along one of the country’s busiest roads and drew crowds of curious motorists. The Kaduna-Abuja Expressway links the main city in the north with the federal capital, and officials are now trying to determine whether the material poses any danger.
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, known as Nesrea, has told the public to stay away from the unidentified foam. People have been stopping to take photos since it appeared a few days ago, and many have shared images on social media. The scene has stirred speculation, with some motorists wondering whether a chemical spill was involved and others treating it as a roadside oddity.
One driver who uses the route regularly, Isah Aminu, said another motorist first told him the substance was “clouds” that had fallen from the sky. He said that explanation spread quickly among people on the road. Aminu said he later stopped to look for himself and thought it resembled snow. He added that he was afraid to touch it, even as others moved closer.
His account captures the mix of confusion and curiosity surrounding the white foam on the highway. In a country where major roads are already critical lifelines for trade and travel, any unexplained roadside hazard can quickly become a public concern, especially when people do not know whether they are looking at an innocent spill or something more dangerous.
Nesrea confirmed to the BBC that a team from its Kaduna State Field Office, led by State Co-ordinator Hena Dangari Emmanuel, had visited the site. The agency said it collected samples of the foamy substance, along with soil and water from a nearby stream, for laboratory testing to learn what the material is made of and whether it could affect the environment.
