By Suleiman Abdulmumin
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) today hosted the United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, who raised alarm over the devastating global impact of road traffic crashes, describing the menace as a silent pandemic on the road that must be urgently addressed through collective action.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, received the Special Envoy at the National Headquarters, Abuja, and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to reducing the scourge of road traffic deaths and injuries. He noted that the FRSC remains one of the few agencies in the world with the unique mandate of combining legislation, enforcement, and education. According to him, the Corps has enjoyed robust support from the Federal Government, enabling it to achieve remarkable milestones in its over three decades of existence.
In his remarks, Mr. Jean Todt commended the Corps Marshal for FRSC’s proactive participation in global road safety engagements, describing Nigeria’s role as a positive step towards the realisation of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety. He, however, expressed grave concern over the alarming statistics of road traffic crashes worldwide, disclosing that more than 1.2 million people lose their lives annually to crashes, with millions more suffering life-changing injuries.
“The scale of road traffic crashes across the globe is nothing short of catastrophic. This is a silent pandemic that continues to claim lives daily, and unless governments, institutions, and individuals take decisive action, the numbers will only rise,” Mr. Todt warned.
He emphasised the urgent need to entrench the Safe System Approach, which prioritises education, strict enforcement of traffic laws, high-quality roads, safer vehicles, and effective post-crash care. He further called for a drastic shift in the culture of road use among motorists, stressing that non-adherence to traffic regulations remains a major contributor to avoidable deaths and injuries.
While commending the FRSC for its consistent efforts and strategic achievements in road safety management, the Special Envoy insisted that more still needs to be done to consolidate the gains recorded so far. He urged stakeholders at all levels, from policymakers and transport unions to individual road users, to rise to the occasion and contribute to ending the needless carnage on roads.
The Corps Marshal, in his response, assured that FRSC remains resolute in driving Nigeria’s road safety agenda in line with global standards, while intensifying collaboration with both local and international partners to achieve safer roads for all.