By Chioma James
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has unveiled a strengthened enforcement and compliance strategy following a surge in road traffic crashes recorded in 2025, warning that reckless driving, speeding and weak compliance remain the greatest threats to lives on Nigerian roads.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed mni, made this known during a press conference on “Operation Zero tolerance “and the Corps’ 2025 operational performance, while acknowledging the media as a critical stakeholder in the road safety ecosystem, noting that accurate reportage and sustained advocacy have continued to support behavioural change, transparency and accountability in traffic management nationwide.
Mohammed conveyed the appreciation of the Corps to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his consistent support and policy direction, as well as to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for institutional backing that has enhanced operational effectiveness and professionalism within the FRSC.
Presenting an evidence-driven briefing, the Corps Marshal emphasized that road safety outcomes must be judged by data rather than intention, stressing that the Corps’ interventions are guided strictly by empirical crash analysis and operational intelligence.
According to the data reviewed, road traffic crashes during the December 2025 festive period increased by 3.4 percent, rising from 665 cases in 2024/2025 to 687 cases in 2025/2026. Fatalities also rose from 571 to 597, while the number of injured persons climbed to 2,522.
Despite the increase in crashes, Mohammed noted an improvement in emergency outcomes, with the number of victims rescued without injury rising from 2,697 to 2,792, attributing the development to improved response time and enhanced rescue coordination.
He disclosed that some of the deadliest crashes occurred along major national corridors, including Zuba–Kaduna–Zaria, Benin–Asaba–Awka, Jos–Bauchi and Abuja–Lokoja, many of which involved single-vehicle crashes resulting in mass casualties.
The Corps Marshal identified speeding, dangerous overtaking, loss of control, tyre burst and brake failure as the dominant causes of the crashes, describing them as preventable outcomes of reckless driving behaviour and poor vehicle maintenance.
From an enforcement perspective, FRSC recorded a rise in traffic violations, with offenders apprehended increasing to 29,317 during the festive operation. Over 1,100 offenders were convicted through mobile courts nationwide, reflecting a more visible and deterrent enforcement posture.
Corridor analysis revealed that the Federal Capital Territory recorded the highest number of crashes in December 2025, followed closely by the Zuba–Kaduna–Zaria and Lafia–Akwanga–Keffi corridors, reinforcing the need for sustained patrol dominance and targeted speed enforcement.
Vehicle involvement data showed that buses accounted for the highest number of crashes, underscoring the Corps’ zero-tolerance stance against commercial driver indiscipline, fatigue driving and speed abuse.
On a broader scale, comparative analysis of January to December data showed that total crashes increased by 9.2 percent in 2025, while serious and minor crashes also rose significantly. However, fatalities declined by 2.4 percent, resulting in 132 lives saved compared to 2024.
Mohammed explained that the decline in deaths, despite increased exposure from higher passenger and vehicle movement, demonstrates the impact of improved post-crash response, though it fell short of the Corps’ target of a 10 percent fatality reduction.
To reverse the rising crash trend, the Corps Marshal announced new policy directives, including intelligence-led enforcement, zero tolerance for five high-risk offences, stricter speed management and full compliance with speed limiting device regulations for commercial vehicles.
He further introduced a Command Accountability Framework, where crash reduction and enforcement performance will determine operational evaluation, insisting that routine patrols without measurable impact will no longer be acceptable.
In conclusion, the Corps Marshal stated that road crashes are not inevitable but are consequences of indiscipline and weak compliance, reaffirming the Corps’ resolve to intensify enforcement, strengthen prevention strategies and ultimately save lives on Nigerian road.