The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, on Monday, restated the Corps’ commitment to strengthening policies and partnerships that would enhance safer roads across the country.
Mr Mohammed said this during the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in Abuja.
The event was organised in collaboration with Kwapda Road Safety Demand (KRSD).
The event brought together families of crash victims, safety advocates, and stakeholders to honour lives lost on Nigerian roads and to reaffirm the nation’s collective commitment to safer highways.
This year’s commemoration had the theme “Invest in Safe Roads to Recover Our “Lost Talent.”
Mr Mohammed said that the FRSC would continue to prioritise any action, strategy or policy capable of helping the Corps achieve its mandate of reducing road traffic crashes nationwide.
According to him, the Corps welcomes the growth of modern bus transit systems and non-motorised transport options.
“These modes support safer movement for commuters.
“We now collaborate with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that are competing and championing the non-motorised transport system,” he said.
Mr Mohammed noted that with an increasing population and more people on the roads, many governments resorted to building more borders or expanding existing roads, but such approaches were not sustainable.
He said that examples from cities like New York showed that the more effective solution was the efficient utilisation of existing road networks.
“The solution is to construct more walkways and cycling lanes for cyclists and residents to utilise to get to their stations,” he maintained.
The corps marshal encouraged the adoption of mass transit railways and buses, saying they provided safer, more efficient alternatives for commuters.
He added that with accessible walkways and cycling lanes, commuters could easily connect from bus or rail stations to their final destinations.
He appealed to governments at all levels to prioritise the construction of cycling lanes and pedestrian walkways to enhance safety and improve mobility across cities.
The FRSC boss, however, appreciated the families of crash victims and pledged that the Corps would continue to intensify efforts to prevent avoidable deaths on Nigerian roads.
In his keynote address, former corps marshal Osita Chidoka outlined five urgent actions Nigeria must take to drastically reduce road crashes and strengthen the country’s road safety framework.
Mr Chidoka, who made the recommendation while speaking on national road safety priorities, said the measures were necessary to protect citizens and improve the efficiency of Nigeria’s transport system.
“Five actions we can take now are to mandate the 10 per cent rule, fund top 10 risk corridors, reform commercial transport, connect data to budget and institutionalise victims’ voices,” he said.
Mr Chidoka reaffirmed his commitment to promoting road safety reforms, saying the outlined actions were achievable and critical to reducing deaths and injuries on Nigerian roads.
(NAN)