The Nigerian Government has called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant stakeholders to recommit themselves to the implementation of the country’s Road Safety Strategy.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who made the call, noted that much work is still required by the government and other stakeholders to keep Nigeria’s roads safe.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja during the FRSC’s 8th Annual Lecture Series, the Vice President described recent statistics indicating a high number of road deaths as disturbing, stressing that the nation still faces considerable road safety challenges.
He urged stakeholders in government and the private sector to pursue indigenous solutions while collaborating with global partners to ensure safer roads.
“I commend the leadership of the FRSC for the vigour and innovation with which you have pursued this cause. But let me add a note of caution: we do not yet have the luxury to celebrate. The road ahead remains long and demanding.
“Much work still lies before us, and we must draw from both our indigenous solutions and effective collaborations with global partners to achieve our objectives,” the Vice President said.
Noting that “Nigeria still faces significant road safety challenges, with recent statistics revealing a troubling record of deaths on our roads,” Shettima stressed that road safety is a collective responsibility.
He called for renewed commitment to the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy.
“We must recommit ourselves to implementing the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy. We must ensure that all tiers of government, the private sector, and other stakeholders, including Non-Governmental Organisations, are fully engaged in road safety activities. Only through such shared responsibility can we guarantee sustainable outcomes,” he maintained.
As Chairman of the National Road Safety Advisory Council, the Vice President reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that President Bola Tinubu’s pledge “to make the vision of the National Road Safety Strategy a reality is never relegated.”
He noted that the Annual Lecture Series serves as a platform for accountability and reflection, offering an opportunity to compare indigenous solutions with global best practices.
According to him, “strategic engagements and activities such as this serve as our vehicle towards that goal.”
The Vice President commended the FRSC, saying the Corps has produced refined minds whose insights enrich the nation’s quest for safer roads. He added that “the theme of this year’s edition speaks not only to the FRSC’s resolve to keep reinventing itself but also to its alignment with global standards in road safety management.”
Acknowledging progress so far, he stated: “This administration has made it a priority to enable critical Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to function to public expectation.
“In its thirty-seven years of existence, the FRSC has demonstrated the promise, the potential, and the practice of prioritising safety and securing the lives and property of road users.
“The Federal Government has also shown its commitment to this mission through massive infrastructure development, consistent road maintenance, and the expansion of our highway networks.”
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the FRSC’s annual lecture series has grown into a platform for dialogue on effective road safety and transportation management.
He noted that as Nigeria faces rapid urbanisation, there is a need to embrace new partnerships while strengthening local systems “to protect the lives of our people.”
Acknowledging the FRSC’s tireless work, Akume observed that “much remains to be done,” assuring them that the Federal Government is committed to further supporting the Corps with capacity building and interagency coordination.
He stressed, however, that the responsibility for safer roads rests on all Nigerians and residents.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, explained that the lecture series was designed to share perspectives on road safety management in Nigeria in the light of emerging global challenges.
Speaking on the topic, “Road Safety Management and Emerging Transportation Trends: Global Partnership for Optimal Performance”, the Executive Director of the London-based Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Foundation, Saul Billingsley, commended the FRSC’s leadership, noting that “it is very well appreciated and recognised across the world.”
He stated that the FRSC now serves as a key player in the global road safety community.