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Tag: Shehu Mohammed

  • Why we recorded a spike in road traffic crashes in December/January – FRSC 

    Why we recorded a spike in road traffic crashes in December/January – FRSC 

    …597 deaths recorded in 687 accidents

    Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed said risky road user behaviour was largely responsible for the 3.4 per cent increase in road traffic crashes recorded during the festive season, from 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026. 

    Speaking on Monday in Abuja during a press briefing on the Operation Zero 2025 festive season, comparing the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 operations, the FRSC boss said crash data revealed an increase across all major indices.

    Mohammed disclosed that total road traffic crashes rose from 665 in 2024/2025 to 687 in 2025/2026, representing a 3.4 percent increase. 

    He said, “The number of persons involved increased from 5,761 to 5,942, while fatalities rose from 571 to 597, a 4.2 percent increase. Injuries also increased from 2,462 to 2,522.” 

    “Those rescued without injury rose from 2,697 to 2,792, reflecting improved rescue and emergency response outcomes. 

    “The figures demonstrate that while interventions saved lives, risky road user behaviour continued to undermine safety during peak travel periods.”

    According to the FRSC boss, analysis of Operation Zero 2025/2026 showed that the most severe crashes were concentrated along key interstate and peri-urban corridors, with several single-incident crashes resulting in multiple casualties.

    He said, “Locations such as Benin-Asaba-Awka recorded 17 injured and 12 deaths; Zuba-Kaduna-Zaria recorded 67 injured and 39 deaths; while Jos-Bauchi,Gombe-Bauchi-Darazo-Potiskum claimed 49 lives, Abuja-Lokoja, 28 deaths, Mai Adua-Daura-Kazaure-Dambata 18 deaths, and Enugu-Umuahia-Aba recorded 11 fatalities.” 

    Mohammed revealed that the largely avoidable crashes were primarily caused by speeding, dangerous overtaking, loss of control, tyre burst and brake failure—clear indicators of reckless driving and poor vehicle condition.

    He said in December 2025 alone, the FCT Metropolis corridor recorded 97 crashes, followed by Zuba–Kaduna–Zaria with 86 crashes, and Lafia–Akwanga–Keffi–Goshen with 80 crashes. 

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    He added that the same corridors also accounted for the highest fatality burden, justifying sustained patrol dominance, speed enforcement and targeted intervention along high-risk routes.

    The FRSC boss said analysis also reveals that Zone RS4 Jos recorded the highest severity index at 0.18 and accounted for 11.4 percent of total crashes in December 2025, indicating a disproportionate fatality to crash ratio requiring sustained operational focus.

    He said: “Temporal analysis further shows that 87% of crashes occurred between 0600hrs and 1959hrs, with a pronounced peak between 1200hrs and 1359hrs, while Wednesdays recorded the highest crash frequency.”

    “Causation analysis remains unequivocal. Speed limit violation accounted for 41 percent of all identified causes of road traffic crashes in December 2025.”

    “Speed remains the single greatest threat to life on Nigerian roads. The data is clear: speed kills, indiscipline sustains crashes, and disciplined enforcement saves lives.”

    While giving January to December 2025 statistics, Mohammed also revealed that a comparative analysis of 2024 and 2025 crash data shows that total crashes increased by 9.2 percent from 9,570 to 10,446. 

    He said that in 2024, fatal crashes which were 2,532 rose to 2,608 in 2025 representing 3.0 percent, serious crashes by 10.5 percent that is from 6,131 in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025 and minor crashes from 907 to 1,066 signifying 17.5 percent increase. 

    The FRSC boss reported that the number of persons injured increased from 31,154 to 33,400 which is a 7.2 percent rise, and the number of people involved increased by 8.0 percent.

    He also reported that the number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 percent reduction, hence the reduction confirms that post-crash response interventions are working, it fell short of the Corps’ strategic target of a 10% fatality reduction and confirms that the challenge before us is no longer response alone, but prevention, compliance and deterrence.

    He said in 2025, the Corps recorded a significant rise in enforcement activities compared to 2024. 

    “The number of offenders arrested increased from 453,304 in 2024 to 581,332 in 2025, representing an increase of 128,028 arrests, which translates to a 28.3% rise. Similarly, offences booked rose from 496,799 in 2024 to 648,918 in 2025, an increase of 152,119 offences, amounting to a 30.6% increase,” he said.  

    Mohammed said the upward trend reflects intensified patrol operations, improved surveillance, and a more robust enforcement strategy aimed at promoting road discipline and enhancing overall safety on Nigerian roads.

    He revealed that in comparison of 2024 and 2025 passenger and vehicular movement reveals steady growth, with passenger traffic rising from 45.16 million in 2024 to 47.47 million, representing a 2.54% increase; vehicles traveled also increased from 3.65 million to 3.74 million signifying a 1.25% difference; luxury bus operations expanded from 26,728 trips to 29,844 trips, a 5.51% difference; and total kilometres covered growing significantly from 4.07 billion kilometres to 4.88 billion kilometres, reflecting a 9.05% difference.

    The data, he said, confirms that both vehicle and persons travelled increased significantly in 2025, leading to higher vehicle volumes, mobility and economic activity. 

    He said despite the increased exposure, fatalities declined by 2.4 percent, meaning 132 lives were saved compared to 2024, hence the target of the corps was to reduce fatalities by 10 percent by 2025.

    He said the increase in injuries reflects higher crash occurrence alongside improved postcrash survival and rescue outcomes, hence, success was measured not only by targets but by lives preserved while enforcement and emergency response interventions were working, but they must now be intensified.

    Mohammed who revealed his policy directive on reversing the rising trend of road traffic crashes noted that the corps was dealing with a crisis of exposure, weak compliance, declining deterrence and persistent indiscipline, not an absence of laws or awareness. 

  • Why FRSC officials should be allowed to carry arms, by Corps Marshal, others

    Why FRSC officials should be allowed to carry arms, by Corps Marshal, others

    Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, and other former leaders of the agency on Wednesday gave reasons why personnel of the FRSC should be allowed bear arms. 

    Speaking at a public hearing on a bill to create a special squad for the FRSC, Mohammed as well as former Corps Marshal, Gen. Haladu Hananiiya and former chairmen of the board of the agency, Mallam Bukhari Bello and Mr. Sule Usman, SAN call for support for the creation of an arm squad for agency. 

    The Corps Marshal in his remetks informed the House Committee that FRSC operatives have often been killed, maimed and molested by criminals while on rescue missions, adding that road safety law enforcements agents all over the world are all armed for security and safety purposes.  

    “In addition to the non-kinetic support contributed by FRSC to counter-insurgency operations, empowering the Corps with an armed squad could extensively deter criminal activities on our highways thus improving safety and security in Nigeria”.

    Gen. Hananiya who is the pioneer Corps Marshal of the FRSC appreciated the House for the courage to introduce the bill seeking special armed squad.

    He said “Let us remove sentiments  and emotions from our considerations, and ensure that we support the move by the House to protect personnel of the FRSC and their property”.

    Former Chairman of the governing board of the Commission, Mallam Bukhari Bello and Sule Usman, SAN, in their seprate submissions expressed support for all the proposed amendments, urging speedy passage of the bill for them to bring the benefits to bear in no time.

    Also a retired Deputy Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Kayode Olagunju recalled how hoodlums invaded his home while he tried to stop number plates fraud in Lagos and shot him on the abdomen. 

    He said “I was just lucky to survive. That was possibk because of inadequate protection of an officer”, he stated,  adding that the argument of proliferation or accidental discharge would not be issue when the personnel are properly trained.

    Another retired Deputy Corps Marshall, Charles Akpabio also recalled how as a zonal commander, his patrol team from Adamawa who went to rescue accident victims in Numan were attacked on its way back by Okada mob which blamed the officers for causing the road crash. 

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    “I had to rely on sister security agencies. Only the presence of Army and DSS team prevented from burning me and my personnel. There need for a special armed squad to protect our facilities and personnel, however, there must be rules of engagement”.

    Speaking for the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Dr. Kassim Ibrahim expressed total support of all the proposed amendments, saying “a robust and effective FRSC is a necessity. It is very important to protect the lives of officers and facilities”

    However, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the National Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NACTOMORAS), expressed reservations about the bill, insisting that the core mandate of the FRSC does not require its personnel to be armed.

    Comrade Frank Uche who spoke from the NURTW said “It is our view that the armed squad will duplicate the functions of the police which already has the clear mandate of security lives. To avoid conflict of interest, care must be taken. Also, the potential for abuse is high, especially in view of the rising tension because of the economic situation in the country”.

    Mohammed Sani Hasaan of NACTOMORAS also observed the only objection to arm suqd was that the work usually done by FRSC personnel are in civilians dominated areas. “If they have to be armed, it should not be in the enforcement of their daily assigned duties, unless it is just to protect personnel, equipment and offices”, he said.

    Chairman of the House of Committee on the Federal Road Safety Commission, Abiodun Adesida said the hearing marks a pivotal moment in the drive to reposition the FRSC, adding that as the country continue to evolve so were also the need to brace up with innovations.

    Aside the proposal for special armed squad for personnel which he noted was not completely new, he explained that explained that there are more strict penalties for road offences, “aimed at protecting personnel who often put their lives on the line”.

  • ‘Key into digitalisation for efficiency’

    ‘Key into digitalisation for efficiency’

    CORPS Marshall of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has advised special marshals to key into the digitalisation aimed at improving productivity.

    He said: ‘’By utilising these, special marshals can work with greater efficiency and impact, solidifying their role as image-makers of  FRSC.’’

    The corps’ marshal spoke at 2024 Zonal Conference of RS2 Special Marshals. He was represented by Assistant Corps Marshal for Special Duties and External Relations, Aliyu Datsama.

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    Shehu said it was imperative for them to leverage on technology for better effectiveness.

    RS2 Zonal Commanding Officer, Adeoye Irelewuyi, said leveraging on technology will aid global development.

    RS2 Zonal Coordinator of Special Marshalls, Solomon Adeniyi, them to abstain from corruption or infraction, saying they were always regarded as men of integrity.

  • Major shakeup in FRSC as new corps marshal redeploys spokesperson, four senior officers

    Major shakeup in FRSC as new corps marshal redeploys spokesperson, four senior officers

    The Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has approved the redeployment of five senior officers.

    The redeployment affected three Assistant Corps Marshals, one Corps Commander, and one Deputy Corps Commander, who are all expected to report to their new responsibilities with immediate effect.

    A statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, the development is in line with the Corps Marshal’s “policy thrust targeted at strategic repositioning of the Corps for optimal performance and ease of doing business,”

    The senior officers affected are Assistant Corps Marshal Jonas Agwu, the erstwhile Public Education Officer who is now redeployed to head the Administration and Human Resources Department at the FRSC headquarters; Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Chidi B Nkwonta, former Commandant, FRSC Command and Staff College UDI, Enugu State now to take over duty as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Corps Marshal, Assistant Corps Marshal Hafeez Muhammed now redeployed as Zonal Commanding Officer Zone 7. 

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    The Corps Marshal also approved the redeployment of Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide from Command Administration and Strategy in the Operations Department at the National Headquarters and appointed the new Corps Public Education Officer.

    The new FRSC boss also appointed Deputy Corps Commander Wasiu Adenekan as the Technical Advisor to the Corps Marshal and head of the Corps Information Technology Office respectively.

    The Corps Marshal charged all officers redeployed to remain steadfast in their commitment and dedication to duties and “to share in the FRSC vision of making Nigerian roads safer for all motorists.”