By Suleiman Abdulmumin
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, mni, has announced a renewed drive to tackle road safety challenges across the country, following alarming statistics from the first half of 2025 which saw a 3.9% rise in road crashes and a 2.2% increase in fatalities compared to the same period last year.
Speaking during a press briefing at the 2025 Half-Year Strategy Session held at the ICT Hall, FRSC Headquarters in Abuja, the Corps Marshal revealed that 5,281 crashes occurred nationwide between January and June, involving 39,793 individuals. Tragically, 2,838 lives were lost, while 17,818 persons were rescued.
He attributed the rising figures to increased road usage, noting that over 30 million passengers traveled in 2.3 million vehicles during the six-month period. States like Anambra and Kano alone accounted for 22% of the national passenger volume.
Mohammed emphasized that the Corps remains unfazed by the growing challenges. “FRSC is not overwhelmed. The Corps is a resilient and committed agency rising to meet the growing national challenge with professionalism and innovation,” he stated.
He highlighted the increase in arrests—290,887 traffic offenders apprehended for 319,798 offences, up from 250,720 offenders and 271,895 offences in 2024—as proof of the Corps’ intensified vigilance and responsiveness.
On the reform front, Mohammed outlined key initiatives including the successful passage of a Bill by the House of Representatives to amend the FRSC Establishment Act, aiming to enhance operational capacity, staff welfare, and institutional protection. He also hailed the deployment of the National Crash Reporting Information System (NACRIS) and the FRSC Mobile App as transformative tools for crash reporting, blackspot detection, and driver verification.
The Corps Marshal further announced the impending launch of the FRSC Health Management Office (HMO), a move expected to improve healthcare delivery for personnel in response to long-standing complaints about existing HMOs.
In the area of public engagement, FRSC has expanded its education campaigns through town hall meetings, park rallies, and innovative breakfast sessions to foster productivity and awareness.
Mohammed also celebrated recent accolades earned by the Corps, including the Nigeria Gov-Tech Public Service Award, ISO recertification for the fifth time, and international honours like the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award. FRSC, he said, now serves as the Permanent Secretariat for both the West African Road Safety Organization (WARSO) and the African Association of Lead Agencies in Road Safety Management (AARSLA), reflecting its rising continental leadership.
While commending the media for their consistent support, Mohammed issued a rallying call to stakeholders and the motoring public. “Road crash is a societal challenge… I charge all Commanding Officers to intensify field operations, maintain discipline, and uphold the core values of the Corps,” he said.
Looking ahead, he warned that the Corps would adopt “stringent measures” through enhanced Mobile Court sessions and special monitoring operations to curb reckless driving and enforce compliance with traffic laws.
“Road safety is a collective responsibility,” Mohammed concluded, urging Nigerians to join hands with the FRSC in working towards a “zero traffic-death” vision for the country.