By Ibironke Ariyo
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called for stronger collaboration between government, stakeholders, and civil society to reduce Road Traffic Deaths (RTDs) during the Yuletide season.
The Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2025 Fourth Quarter Strategy Session themed “Mainstreaming Road Safety into National Development: The Role of Government at All Levels.”
Mohammed said that the collaboration became necessary in view of the anticipated increase in vehicular movement associated with the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Mohammed said human behaviour was a major factor in road crashes, which annually resulted in an average of 5,000 deaths and about 31,000 injuries in Nigeria.
He however, highlighted FRSC’s digitalised operations, which improved coordination between the command centre and field operatives for enforcement and emergency response.
He warned against crash-scene stampedes, noting that 198 people died in 2025 alone from scooping spilled contents from three tanker crashes.
“Motorists tend to be more reckless during the festive period, engaging in practices such as overloading passengers and goods, exceeding speed limits, and driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages.
“This is why it is necessary for commanding officers to intensify awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts to reduce road crashes and meet the expectations of the FRSC.
“I urge commanding officers to engage State Governors, Special Marshals, Civil Society Organisations, faith-based missions and educational institutions to ensure road safety is prioritised at national and sub-national levels,” he said.
Speaking on the interventions of the Corps, Mohammed said the FRSC Annual Lecture Series had drawn government attention to road safety as a public health issue and secured the University of Abuja’s commitment to include road safety in its syllabus.
He also highlighted the International Conference on Road Crash Victims for Africa, held in partnership with the KRSD Road Safety Foundation, which would lead to the establishment of a Trauma Centre to support emergency care and post-crash treatment.
He said that the drivers’ licence printing facility had been upgraded to produce 15,000 licences daily and introduced a one-stop contactless biometric capture system.
He announced a pilot electronic Passenger Manifest scheme in Delta, FCT, Kano, Lagos and Rivers States to improve passenger safety and welfare, and provide healthcare interface for road crash victims.
“The National Assembly has passed the FRSC Amendment Bill, now awaiting Presidential assent, to strengthen the Corps’ legislative framework.
“On staff welfare, the 2026 Promotion Exercise has been activated to fill vacancies left by retired officers,” he assured.
The FRSC boss listed the session’s key objectives, including enforcing traffic laws, improving human capital, applying technology, enhancing partnerships, restoring professionalism, and improving staff welfare.
Mohammed urged participants to contribute innovative ideas to make road safety a shared developmental priority.
“Every life on our road counts and through synergy, commitment and leadership at all levels, we can build a safer and more prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
The Corps Marshal assured that with collective resolve, the FRSC would continue to work towards safer roads to support socio-economic activities nationwide.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some outstanding commands including Lagos and FCT received awards for excellent performance.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)