In a bid to curb the rising number of road traffic crashes during the final quarter of the year, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched its annual ember months safety campaign in Akwa Ibom State, calling on motorists to take personal responsibility for road safety.
Speaking during a press briefing in Uyo on Monday, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, emphasised the importance of responsible driving as the nation approaches the high-travel season.
The event marked the official flag-off of the 2025 public enlightenment campaign themed: “Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.”
Mr. Mohammed, who was represented by the Akwa Ibom State Sector Commander, Mr. Francis Ajatta, said the campaign would focus on raising awareness about risky driver behaviour, which remains the leading cause of road crashes across Nigeria.
“The choice of this year’s theme underscores our commitment to addressing the human factors behind most road accidents,” the Corps Marshal stated.
According to him, violations such as excessive speeding, disregard for traffic rules, use of mobile phones while driving, and operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs continue to contribute significantly to road fatalities.
Providing insight into past campaigns, Mohammed revealed that during the 2024 Operation Zerowhich ran from December 15, 2024, to January 15, 2025, there were 533 reported crashes, leading to the death of 432 persons and injuries to 2,070 others.
He attributed the causes of many of these incidents to driver fatigue, overloading, unsafe transportation of passengers in goods vehicles, and illegal transportation of fuel in plastic containers.
“Driver attitude is the single most critical determinant of safety on our highways,” he said.
To tackle these challenges ahead of the busy travel season, the Corps has announced a nationwide deployment of personnel to major highways and high-risk zones.
In addition, it will conduct free vehicle inspections to assess roadworthiness, particularly focusing on commercial fleets.
In his remarks, Sector Commander Ajatta disclosed that the Akwa Ibom command had already initiated a series of outreach efforts including visits to motor parks, churches, mosques, and public places to educate road users on safety measures.
Town hall meetings and road awareness rallies have also been held to sensitize both drivers and commuters.
Ajatta emphasised that the command would intensify enforcement activities, particularly targeting offences such as speed limit violations, overloading of goods and passengers, use of worn-out tyres, driving without proper lighting anong others.
To ensure smooth traffic flow during the ember months, the command also identified critical congestion points such as markets, trailer parks at Ntak Inyang, and major roundabouts, where officers will be stationed for effective traffic control.
Ajatta appealed for collaboration from the state government, corporate organisations, and private individuals to provide heavy-duty towing vehicles and logistics support.
He noted that quick response to vehicle breakdowns was essential to maintaining safety and decongesting busy routes.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. We must all come together—government, private sector, and individuals—to make our roads safer,” he said.
