By Suleiman Abdulmumin
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding vulnerable road users as the world marks the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week. The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, in a press conference in Abuja, stated that the need to safeguard pedestrians and cyclists, who are usually vulnerable to the hazardous roads in Nigeria, cannot be overemphasized.
Themed “Make Walking Safe, Make Cycling Safe”, the 2025 campaign aims to accentuate the necessity for inclusive road infrastructure. Mohammed explained that walking and cycling are still the prevalent means of getting around for most Nigerians, particularly school children, traders, and low-income earners. Nonetheless, unsafe features like sidewalks and bike lanes, in addition to reckless driving and low public awareness, persist in exposing people to risks.
The FRSC laid out national statistics for crashes, reporting 5,081 deaths in 2023 and jumping to 5,421 in 2024 while total crashes fell by 10%. “These are grieving families, not statistics,” Mohammed said. Conversely, the FRSC is strengthening public education, school safety programs, and enforcement strategies while advocating non-motorized transportation policies at every level of government. The organization coordinates its mandate with global resolutions like the Marrakech Declaration that calls upon transport systems to ensure the protection of all system users.
“FRSC will be leading, but we need the support of everyone,” Mohammed appealed while calling for concerted efforts towards an end to preventable deaths on the roads.