The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Flood warnings deserve action, not just alerts

    Flood warnings deserve action, not just alerts

    Sir: Every year, the rains come. And every year, Nigeria is caught unprepared. This August, the federal government has again issued an alert: at least 19 states and 76 communities are at risk of flooding. It’s not the first time we’ve heard it, and sadly, it won’t be the last.

    Beyond the headlines and media statements, where are the physical preparations—cleared drainages, pre-positioned relief materials, early evacuation protocols?

    Lagos State has already advised residents in flood-prone areas like Lekki, Ajegunle, and Ikorodu to relocate. A necessary warning, yes, but relocation is not a simple task. Where should people go? Who is providing transport? Where are the safe havens?

    It is easy to issue warnings, but far harder to build infrastructure that keeps people safe. Most flood-prone communities in Nigeria are chronically underserved. Drainage systems are blocked or non-existent, roads are poorly maintained, and no proper flood barriers are in place. Flooding is not just a natural disaster. In Nigeria, it is a product of neglect. A disaster made worse by poor planning, poor enforcement of environmental laws, and a consistent failure to act until lives and properties are lost.

    We cannot continue to act like flooding is an unpredictable event. Every year, it happens. Every year, communities are displaced. Every year, emergency agencies scramble—after the damage is done.

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    In 2022 and 2023, thousands of people lost their homes to floods. In 2024, entire farming communities were wiped out. Already this year, Niger State’s Mokwa flood disaster claimed over 500 lives and left thousands homeless. That flood, like many others, wasn’t caused by rain alone. Poor water management, dam overflow, and the absence of preventive structures all contributed to the scale of destruction. And still, we see no urgency in building the Dasin Hausa Dam to mitigate the impact of Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam release.

    If the government is serious about protecting lives, then action must follow warnings. That means equipping NEMA and state emergency units with funds, personnel, and tools to prevent, not just respond. It means treating flood mitigation the way we treat elections: with preparation months in advance, a clear strategy, and the political will to enforce rules—even if it means demolishing structures built on waterways.

    We also need to educate communities. Many Nigerians still dispose of waste in drainages. Urban planning must be enforced, and environmental education must go beyond jingles to real engagement.

    The truth is that we cannot stop the rain—but we can stop the tragedy. Other countries face storms and survive because they prepare. We cannot afford to wait until every rainy season becomes a national emergency. Climate change is real, and it is intensifying our flood seasons. Forecasts will get worse. The time to act is not tomorrow. It is now.

    •Ugwu Augustine,University Of Maiduguri

  • Airline passengers, poor service, and regulatory conundrum

    Airline passengers, poor service, and regulatory conundrum

    Sir: The Nigerian aviation industry sits at a crossroads. While air travel is still viewed as a premium mode of transportation, it is also one of the most stressful experiences for many Nigerians. Delays, cancellations, shifting schedules, missing luggage, opaque refund processes, and poor communication are now routine. Against this backdrop, frayed tempers frequently spill over into unruly behaviour—shouting matches at boarding gates, confrontations at check-in counters, and, increasingly, in-flight altercations that go viral.

    The regulatory agencies the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) often respond with threats of sanctions or announcements of new measures. Airlines, for their part, issue lifetime bans on passengers who misbehave. Yet, the fundamental question remains: why is the system producing so much friction in the first place?

    The answer lies in the conundrum at the heart of Nigeria’s aviation sector: passengers who feel abandoned, staff who are poorly equipped to manage conflict, and regulatory agencies who oscillate between pronouncements and selective enforcement. The president through the aviation minister must drive enforcement and the National Assembly should wake up to their legislative and oversight function to safeguard public interest and the common good.

    Globally, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has raised alarm about a rise in unruly passengers’ post-COVID. Nigeria is not unique, but here the triggers are amplified by systemic service failures. A passenger who has been waiting for six hours with no updates is far more likely to explode when told to “be patient” by an under-trained staff member. Unruliness, in other words, is both a discipline problem and a service failure symptom.

    Passengers are not blameless, but their grievances are legitimate. Nigeria’s NCAA Consumer Protection Regulations (Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulations) are clear: in the event of delays or cancellations, passengers are entitled to compensation, meals, accommodation, or rebooking at no extra cost. The NCAA has even published simplified versions of these rights on its website.

    But reality diverges sharply. At Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, passengers routinely complain about being left stranded overnight without hotel arrangements or clear communication. At Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, flight delays often cascade without airlines offering meal vouchers or updates. Airlines cite “operational reasons” or “weather” as excuses, while regulators appear unwilling or unable to enforce compliance.

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    Interestingly, other countries have faced similar challenges and adopted creative measures. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) introduced a “zero tolerance” policy for unruly passengers, with hefty fines and swift prosecution. The UK Civil Aviation Authority requires airlines to submit annual data on complaints and publishes them publicly, creating reputational incentives for good behaviour. The European Union’s EC261 regulation, though controversial, enforces automatic compensation for delays and cancellations, with penalties for airlines that fail to comply.

    Nigeria can draw lessons from these jurisdictions but must adapt them to local realities. The key is certainty: passengers must know their rights, airlines must know their obligations, and sanctions must be swift and credible.

    Going forward, airlines should be compelled to display simple charts of rights at booking counters, boarding gates, and on in-flight screens. Visibility reduces confusion and pre-empts disputes. Every airline should follow a uniform playbook for delays and cancellations: real-time updates, meal vouchers, rebooking, and hotel accommodation where necessary. NCAA audits and public compliance scorecards would enforce discipline. Conflict de-escalation should be mandatory in crew training. Cabin crew and ground staff should also have assurance that the system will protect them when passengers cross the line.

    At its core, aviation is about trust. Passengers trust airlines to deliver safe, timely, and fair service. Airlines trust passengers to comply with safety protocols. Regulators exist to safeguard that trust by enforcing fairness, civility, and accountability. Right now, that trust is broken.

    The conundrum in Nigeria’s aviation sector is not unsolvable. It requires a shift from rhetoric to action: from ad hoc sanctions to systemic enforcement, from opaque processes to transparent remedies, and from conflict to civility. If passengers know their rights will be respected, and staff know misbehaviour will be punished swiftly, the cycle of confrontation can be broken.

    Nigeria and indeed Nigerians deserves an aviation system that is orderly, fair, and respected globally. The skies should not be battlegrounds of frustration but spaces of civility and efficiency. For that to happen, regulators, airlines, and passengers must all play their part.

    •Samuel Akpobome Orovwuje,Lagos

  • When opposition goes clout-chasing

    When opposition goes clout-chasing

     Sir: In every democracy, opposition is meant to sharpen governance, hold power accountable, and deepen national debate. But when opposition is driven not by facts, ideas, or vision, but by ignorance and clout-chasing, it ceases to be the conscience of democracy and becomes the cancer of progress.

    Nigeria is today saddled with an opposition that mistakes noise for logic, Twitter trends for policy, and cheap comparisons for economic analysis.

    The latest shameless theatre is the attempt by the coalition of recycled political elders to compare Nigeria’s economic trajectory with that of Argentina. They raise Argentina as though it were a heaven of reforms, while deliberately ignoring the bitter cries of Argentines battered by Javier Milei’s austerity chainsaw. Argentina has cut nearly 48,000 public-sector jobs, vetoed even modest pension increases, and forced retirees onto the streets to be beaten by police water cannons and rubber pellets. Poverty there is climbing toward 60%, subsidies have been axed overnight, and the government survives only by begging the IMF for lifelines.

    That is not reform; it is desperation.

    This in contrast to the Nigeria reality. Here, we removed the cancerous fuel subsidy, unified exchange rates, and embarked on painful but necessary monetary tightening to wrestle inflation down.

    Inflation, which soared in 2023, is now sliding downwards in 2025, with headline CPI dropping to 21.8% in August. The fiscal deficit has narrowed from 5.4% of GDP to about 3.0%. Electricity sector debts are being refinanced, and the macro-economy, though still rough, is anchored on a foundation of stability.

    Even Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, no spokesperson of any party, but the globally respected WTO chief, publicly affirmed: “Nigeria has achieved stability; now the task is to drive inclusive growth.”

    Yet, the same opposition that celebrates Argentina’s IMF-borrowed pain and police-clubbed pensioners shamelessly called her “economically ignorant” for acknowledging the obvious.

    This is not to canonize the Tinubu administration; make no mistake, I, too, demand more. There are ministers in this government who are sleeping on duty, and there are loopholes where reforms have not yet trickled down. Nigerians are hungry for impact in their daily lives, health, nutrition, education, civil service efficiency. But unlike the ignoramus opposition, I understand sequencing. You first stabilize the macro-economy, then you build growth on that foundation. What we need now is coordination, urgency, and social interventions that humanize the numbers. And to be fair, signs are there.

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    The launch of the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, designed to empower 1,000 persons in each of Nigeria’s 8,809 wards, is one right instinct: drilling development down to the grassroots, away from abstract figures, into real people’s lives. As Minister Atiku Bagudu explained, this initiative will stimulate ward-level economic activity, generate employment, enhance food security, and turn stability into grassroots growth. It is precisely the kind of bottom-up complement that the current macro reforms require.

    So yes, the work is far from done. Nigerians need more, faster, and better delivery. But to compare Nigeria with Argentina is intellectual dishonesty or outright ignorance. Argentina is bleeding; Nigeria is stabilizing. Argentina is sacking workers; Nigeria is restructuring debt. Argentina is on IMF life support; Nigeria is financing reforms internally. Argentina is repressing protests; Nigeria is still debating freely.

    The opposition can keep chasing clout, weaponising ignorance, and gathering their fellowship of losers. Just quite unfortunate that we are not getting what we deserve. Nigerians deserve informed opposition, not this company of old cargoes and nitwits parading as saviours.

    The path forward is clear: build on the stability achieved, fasten the trickle-down through real social interventions, empower the workforce, integrate the informal sector, and ignite true growth. That is how nations rise, not through the shallow chants of ignoramus opposition, nor through the empty hunger of clout chasers, but through truth, stability, and hard work.

    •Oladoja M.O, Abuja

  • Doyin Abiola, a journalism phenomenon

    Doyin Abiola, a journalism phenomenon

    Sir: Like a comet, late Doyin Abiola debuted like a meteor in the Nigerian journalism sphere in the 90s and since she quit the stage, her shoe has been too big for other women of her ilk to carry.

    She symbolized the timeless Yoruba adage that  “a child that will be great, will from the cradle reveal the trace of excellence”. Doyin Aboaba, later Abiola, rejected the offer of a Daily Times Woman Editor but instead preferred to accept a lower position of a features writer because what she saw as a budding journalist, the management of the former flagship of Nigerian journalism, failed to see.

    She went ahead to become the paper’s Group Features Editor, a position that prepared her for great journalistic exploits by the time she moved to The Concord newspapers.

    She became the editor of National Concord on merit; her appointment was historic in a predominantly male dominated position. Nigerian journalism began in 1859 with the publication of the Iwe Irohin by an Anglican cleric and missionary, Henry Townsend; till then no woman rose to such enviable editorial position. And ever since she left, no woman has again risen to such quintessential editorial position.

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    In addition to her brilliance and inimitable quick-wittedness, she was suave in editorial judgment and in sporting talented young individuals whom editors usually rely on to make her work easy. She loved intellectual exchanges and challenges and she abhorred cant and so as managing director and editor-in-chief, it was possible for her to raise journalistic stars in the then Concord group of newspapers.

    She was also ideologically inclined and imbued, believing that a newspaper must stand for a purpose. Life entails a fight for something for it to be worth any while. The Concord of her time stood for the clear emancipation of Nigerians through a reformative and perceptible journalism practice.

    The Weekend Concord edited by Mike Awonyinfa and assisted by Dimgba Igwe, was a must read in their days, because it captured the essence of a restive society always on the move.

    Finally, late Doyin Abiola, symbolized the aphorism that the “pen is mightier than the sword”. Without raising any gun or sword, she brought to standstill all the adversaries and malcontents of June 12, 1993 dastardly annulment of her husband’s well deserved victory.

    Finally, the June 12 episode was a generational epic battle of a no mean phenomenon and definitely, she played her role as a general and had departed the stage when the ovation was loudest.  

    •Sunday Olagunju, Ibadan, Oyo State

  • Why quest for food sufficiency may remain elusive

    Why quest for food sufficiency may remain elusive

    • By Bashir Bello

    Sir: Nigeria’s dream of achieving food and agricultural sufficiency will remain elusive unless we radically change our strategy. Over the years, various agricultural policies and programmes have been implemented, yet results remain minimal. The glaring failure of numerous agricultural programmes vis-a-vis the CBN-funded NIRSAL programme, designed to enhance the agricultural value chain and boost farming as a business, is evident in the rising cost of food and farm commodities.

    We must shift gears and abandon outdated methods for innovative approaches. Agriculture is our future; Nigeria’s prosperity lies not in oil, but in the agricultural sector. Yet, our farming practices still rely heavily on manual labour instead of capital investment and advanced training to adopt modern methods.

    Agriculture today is no longer confined to land alone. It extends to water bodies and even vertical spaces. Reliance on land, labour, and natural endowments is no longer a guarantee for surplus production. The next stage demands the adoption of scientific and technological processes; indoor farming with greenhouses and mega green complexes, aquaponics, hydroponics, vertical farming, and eliminating dependence on unpredictable weather.

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    These methods can also reduce or even remove the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Consider the Netherlands: with less than 1% of the U.S. landmass, it is the world’s second-largest food exporter, earning nearly $90 billion last year. By perfecting growing conditions and maximizing space, yields can reach up to 350 times that of conventional farming. Dutch greenhouses produce 35% of the nation’s vegetables using only 1% of its farmland, and the country is moving toward complete control of the production process, removing reliance on sunlight and other unpredictable elements caused by climate change. Precision farming guarantees full control from seed to harvest.

    Modern farming is about capital and technology; investments in infrastructure, energy, scientific equipment, and machinery, coupled with intensive farmer training and retraining.

    The UN estimates that global food demand will rise by 70% by 2050 as the population grows, even as farmland and water resources shrink due to global warming. For Nigeria, with a rapidly growing population and stagnant agricultural output, the gap between food demand and supply is widening dangerously.

    Securing our food future requires environmental sustainability and a shift to futuristic farming. This involves high-tech, capital-driven agriculture through collaboration between government, scientists, and industry. We must borrow a leaf from world leaders in agriculture, rather than clinging to traditional methods that cannot meet the needs of tomorrow.

    •Bashir Bello,

    Kaduna

  • Who needs a National Council of Traditional Rulers?

    Who needs a National Council of Traditional Rulers?

    • By IfeanyiChukwu Afuba

    Sir: Five months after it came up for second reading at the senate, Senator Simon Lalong’s bill for creation of a national council for traditional rulers, has continued to receive knocks. Although the focus of widespread criticism of the bill, namely, designation of Sultan of Sokoto and Ooni of Ife, as permanent co-chairmen, has reportedly been denied by proponents of the bill, that disclaimer does not salvage the intended legislation.

    Beyond the historical involvement of the monarchy in government set out as general principles, Lalong’s bill latches on to a strange notion of security for contemporary relevance.

    How many traditional rulers from a state will be delegated to the monarchs’ council at Abuja? On whose behalf and to what extent of “jurisdiction” would the one or two state representatives at Abuja be engaged in security engineering? Would they be preoccupied with their constituencies, where they’re presumably informed, or would the focus be nationwide, addressing issues in areas beyond their knowledge and competence?

    And how do the security bodies, with institutional orientation, fit into this outlandish format?

    It should be pointed out at this stage that the uniformity element of the bill, being at variance with Nigeria’s plurality, is unhelpful. Unlike what obtains in the north, community governance, say in the southeast, is in the hands of town unions, not traditional rulers. The latter is a ceremonial office, given to the celebration of cultural heritage. Actual community administration, from security to civil matters to infrastructure, is vested in the town union leadership. The town union government operates with a written constitution under supervision of the state government. In this context, reliance on any other office beside the town union president for security advisory would be misplaced. At best, the traditional ruler may complement the reach of town union leadership.

    Efforts at creating a traditional rulers council for purposes of national security and peace should be better deployed toward establishment of state police. Greater result in law and order would flow from simultaneous operation of federal and state police in the country. The man on the ground in the state is the governor. He knows the terrain, the issues and actors at play in the state. With a police command under his authority, the task of peaceful coexistence and social order would be much easier compared to centralised police machinery.

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    Reality of a governor’s power to hire and fire under state police will make the state police commissioner to sit up and deliver unlike what obtains in the current system. Moreover, state police will function at little or no additional cost to states. The reason is simple: Unofficially, states presently bear the brunt of police operations in their jurisdiction just as they also bear the burden of rehabilitating federal roads.

    Fears have been expressed on the potential conflict between the proposed traditional rulers’ council and other organs of government. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and a number of senators during deliberations on March 13, emphasised the need for clear-cut responsibilities in the bill.

    The senators were putting it mildly. Senator Lalong and his co-travellers on the medieval route are clearly out of touch with imperatives of our democratic order as well as the pulse of the people. It’s disappointing to find elected representatives advocating the creation of a feudal – oriented institution in a republican democracy in the twenty-first century!

    A role for traditional rulers in government translates to combination of feudal privilege with political authority.

    Already, Nigeria is weighed down with bursting governmental structure. Local, state and federal governments are plagued by over-bloated machinery. Several public service reforms, notably Stephen Oronsaye 2012 Report bemoan the trend of redundant establishments in the system. The task of scrapping these duplicated or irrelevant departments is still a long way from completion. Nigerians look forward to elimination of more areas of waste, not additions to the bureaucracy such as a council of traditional rulers. Reducing the cost of governance in favour of social services however does not stop at whittling down administrative organs. Some aspects of our government and politics require systemic surgery from the roots. Nigeria does not need bicameral, federal legislature. One legislative house is enough. The dual legislative chamber is a colossal drain on resources and time.

    •IfeanyiChukwu Afuba,

    <afubaifeanyichukwu@gmail.com>

  • Bauchi’s unflattering governance scorecard

    Bauchi’s unflattering governance scorecard

    Sir: A recent report by WikkiTimes revealed that the Bauchi State government spent almost N20 billion in just six months of 2025 on vehicles, consultancy services, and travels. This amount is more than the total capital spending on health and education combined for the same period.

    According to the state’s budget performance report for the first and second quarters of 2025, N5.82 billion was spent on vehicles alone, which is already 62.2% of the entire N9.37 billion budgeted for the year. Travels and transport cost N3.65 billion, representing 53.8% of the N6.79 billion annual allocation. Consultancy and other professional services consumed N10.58 billion, which is 80.1% of the N13.21 billion set aside for the whole year. The government has also spent N9.96 billion out of its N10 billion security vote, almost exhausting it in just half a year.

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    Meanwhile, key sectors that directly affect the lives of ordinary people are being neglected: The Ministry of Education, with N23.78 billion for the year, spent only N2.78 billion — just 11.7% of its budget. The Ministry of Higher Education used only N1.41 billion out of N13.85 billion — 10.2%. The Ministry of Health did slightly better, spending N13.99 billion out of N47.15 billion, but that is still less than 30% of its budget.

    This clearly shows a government that is prioritizing political and administrative expenses over the real needs of its people. Bauchi State does not need more luxury vehicles for politicians. What it needs is quality education, functional health care, job opportunities for young people, and good roads that truly serve communities.

    Without these basic services, crime and hardship will continue to rise. The people of Bauchi deserve a government that focuses on their welfare and works to develop the state in a way that benefits everyone — not just those in power.

    •Yasir Shehu Adam (Dan Liman),

    Bauchi

  • FRSC: Law enforcers turn lawbreakers?

    FRSC: Law enforcers turn lawbreakers?

    • By Oladebo A. O

    Sir: It is a bitter irony that the very agency charged with keeping our roads safe—the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)—often fails to meet the same standards it imposes on Nigerians.

    Their officers are quick to stop private car owners for lacking fire extinguishers or warning triangles, yet many of the FRSC’s official vehicles have no such gadgets. Some run on fairly used tyres (tokunbo), others on tyres long past expiry dates. When these vehicles break down in the middle of the road, they fail to display warning signs, turning themselves into hazards.

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    The hypocrisy runs deeper. Commercial buses, many without even the most basic safety equipment, are waived on after “settling” on the roadside. The message is clear: safety takes a back seat when bribes are involved.

    Road safety should not be a weapon of intimidation against law-abiding motorists while dangerous vehicles roam free. If the FRSC wants to be taken seriously, it must first clean its own house and lead by example. Until then, their roadblocks will be nothing more than toll gates for corruption.

    •Oladebo A. O,

    <oladeboyemi@gmail.com>

  • The enduring importance of volunteering

    The enduring importance of volunteering

    • By Ovigho Richard Okojevoh

    Sir: In earlier generations, volunteering was not just encouraged—it was embedded in the fabric of growing up. Organisations such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and the Red Cross were well-regarded pillars of civic responsibility. It was common for schools to dedicate specific days—often Thursdays—for students to leave early and participate in these activities. Volunteerism wasn’t considered optional; it was simply a way of life.

    It’s disheartening to observe the growing apathy toward volunteerism today, particularly among young people from low- and middle-income backgrounds.

    Yet, volunteering offers immense benefits—not just to the beneficiaries, but also to the volunteers and society as a whole.

    The decline in volunteerism seems to have accelerated during the economic downturn of the 1990s. While there was a partial recovery in the early 2000s, the culture of volunteer service never fully bounced back. Today, as economic pressures resurface, many young people are priced out of participation by costs like uniforms, membership dues, or transportation.

    Still, participating in community service remains one of the most rewarding ways to create a sense of purpose, connect with like-minded individuals, and contribute to societal progress.

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    One of the most effective ways to break into an industry is by creating proof of work. Volunteering allows you to demonstrate your skills and commitment, often leading to entry-level opportunities. Employers value determination and initiative, and volunteering communicates both. Even compulsory service programs like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)—though not technically voluntary—offer valuable lessons. Despite its flaws, NYSC promotes national unity, team-building, cultural exposure, and skill development. These are precisely the types of experiences we need more of.

    Organisations such as Junior Chamber International (JCI) and AIESEC continue to offer young people unique leadership and personal development opportunities through volunteer work. Similarly, internships—often unpaid or minimally compensated—can serve as critical stepping stones in a career. But for many from low-income backgrounds, unpaid work is a luxury they cannot afford. The lack of financial support, potential for exploitation, and absence of legal protection remain serious challenges.

    IWhile the culture of volunteering has evolved, its core values remain essential. We must find ways to revive and sustain a spirit of volunteerism, adapting to current economic and social realities while preserving its transformational power. Volunteering is not just about giving time—it’s about building character, fostering unity, and making a lasting difference in the world around us.

    •Ovigho Richard Okojevoh,

     <mrsafetyabc@gmail.com>

  • FRSC and its old ways

    FRSC and its old ways

    Sir: The experience of dealing with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as a motorist can often feel unnecessarily punitive. In many instances, when officers of the FRSC apprehend a driver for something as minor as a faulty brake light, they insist on dragging the vehicle to the nearest FRSC office. This practice is not only inconvenient but also almost unheard of in most developed nations. Drivers are subjected to treatment that borders on criminalization for trivial infractions, such as faded number plates — an issue that is not caused by the driver but often by poor-quality production and lack of standardization.

    If the FRSC ensured the provision of proper, standardized number plates, such infractions would hardly arise. More importantly, there would be far less tension if officers simply issued tickets for such minor offenses or allowed on-the-spot payment after clearly explaining the violation to the motorist. Unfortunately, the reality is different. Many officers go as far as entering a motorist’s vehicle uninvited, compelling them to follow them to an FRSC office. Once there, drivers are sometimes confronted with additional, often unrelated charges, subjected to long delays, and even threatened.

    In a democracy governed by the rule of law, such heavy-handed tactics should have no place, and citizens should not be subjected to these degrading experiences.

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    A comparison with Lagos State’s approach to traffic management shows that a better system is possible. In recent years, the operations of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been restructured. Officers are now largely restricted to traffic control duties, while many traffic violations are handled digitally. The state government has installed cameras at strategic points, which automatically detect traffic offenses as vehicles pass by. Offenders are then notified via text or email and can pay their fines at their convenience.

    This system not only reduces face-to-face confrontations but also eliminates the possibility of roadside extortion. Motorists can continue to their destinations whether work, appointments, or emergencies without being unduly delayed. The FRSC’s current methods stand in stark contrast to this approach. Worse still, there are instances where FRSC officers allegedly invent violations that never occurred, simply to penalize or intimidate drivers. Such practices undermine public trust and must be addressed if the agency is to be seen as a credible enforcer of traffic laws.

    Same with FRSC’s handling of driver’s licences. Many Nigerians wait six months to a year after applying for a driver’s licence, despite paying increased fees. This is especially frustrating given that the Nigerian driver’s licence is a simple plastic card with no advanced biometric or electronic capabilities. This inefficiency recalls the frustrations Nigerians once endured with the passport office. To add insult to injury, some FRSC officers reportedly harass motorists for using the official print-out issued by the agency while waiting for the delayed physical card. This is deeply unfair, as the delay is entirely the agency’s fault.

    The FRSC must urgently overhaul its driver’s licence system — from application to issuance — ensuring it is transparent, efficient, and citizen-focused. But this alone will not be enough. The agency must also reform its enforcement culture, ending the practice of roadside harassment for minor or fabricated infractions, and adopt modern, technology-driven methods of traffic management similar to those successfully implemented in Lagos.

    Processes must be streamlined to remove unnecessary bureaucracy and opportunities for extortion, while service delivery must prioritize the dignity and time of Nigerians. This means embracing full digitalization, strict oversight of officers, and a zero-tolerance policy for corruption.

    At the leadership level, FRSC management must align with the federal government’s renewed hope agenda, ensuring that every reform effort produces tangible benefits for citizens. Where leaders fail to deliver, they must be replaced with competent individuals who can drive change and restore public trust.

    Nigerians deserve a Federal Road Safety Corps that treats motorists with fairness, delivers essential services without delay, and contributes positively to the nation’s progress. Anything less is a disservice to the country and its people.

    •Oguntoye Opeyemi,

    Lagos