Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for urgent and coordinated action to cut road crash deaths and injuries in Nigeria by half before the year 2030.
Speaking at the 8th Annual Lecture Series of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) held on Wednesday in Abuja, Shettima urged stakeholders to embrace global best practices and roll out practical strategies to make Nigeria’s roads safer.
The lecture, themed “Road Safety Management and Emerging Transportation Trends: Global Partnership and Optimal Performance”, brought together senior government officials, transport experts, and safety advocates.
According to FRSC records, between January and June 2025 alone, 5,281 road crashes were reported involving 39,793 people. Out of these, 2,838 lost their lives while 17,818 were rescued.
In his keynote address, the Vice President described the theme as both “timely and relevant,” stressing that it provides an opportunity to address the growing challenges in Nigeria’s transportation sector by learning from international experiences.
“I urge you all to deliberate on practical and workable measures that will sanitise our highways and help us achieve the target of reducing road crash fatalities and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030,” Shettima said.
He explained that the lecture series gives FRSC a platform to review its progress, identify gaps, and raise awareness about road safety across the country. He also commended the Corps for its growing regional influence, noting that Nigeria has become a leading voice in road safety management in West Africa and across the continent.
Shettima further assured stakeholders of the Federal Government’s support, pointing out that the FRSC Amendment Bill had already passed third reading in the House of Representatives and was awaiting Senate concurrence.
“The government will continue to back initiatives that strengthen the Corps, promote innovation, and ensure compliance with road safety laws,” he affirmed.
Delivering his goodwill message, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged the Corps to aim for “zero deaths” during the Ember Months and the Yuletide season.
“As we chart the way forward, I enjoin the Corps to take bold steps towards ensuring zero fatalities during the festive period,” Akume said. He applauded the FRSC’s sustained efforts in public awareness, vehicle maintenance campaigns, and standard-setting for fleet operators.
Akume added that Nigeria’s commitment to road safety aligns with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises safe and sustainable mobility.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, in his address, called for stronger national and international partnerships to tackle the country’s road safety challenges. He explained that reviving the Lecture Series, which was last held in 2017, was in line with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the United Nations resolution for Africa to reduce road crash deaths and injuries by half by 2030.
He admitted that despite consistent enforcement, advocacy, and public enlightenment, the statistics remain alarming.
“On average, about 5,000 lives are lost annually, while more than 31,000 people suffer injuries from crashes. These figures show the urgent need to strengthen the National Road Safety Development Plan,” Mohammed said.
He expressed confidence that the recommendations from the lecture would translate into sound policies and positive behavioural change on Nigerian roads.
