Abuja: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called upon African nations to move beyond the mere ratification of road safety policies and begin implementing them effectively. This appeal was made by FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, during the 2026 West African Road Safety Organisation Day event, which took place in Abuja under the theme ‘From Ratification to Action: African Road Safety Charter.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mohammed emphasized the importance of transforming policy ratifications into tangible actions to save lives. He highlighted that without implementation, these ratifications would remain symbolic. Mohammed stressed the need for stronger collaboration among African countries to tackle road crashes and fatalities effectively. He advocated for harmonized traffic laws and coordinated enforcement systems across the continent, urging member states to share crash data and adopt common standards for licensing and vehicle inspections.
Mohammed asserted that member states should swiftly transition from policy documents to having a real impact on the ground. He called for the empowerment of the African Road Safety Observatory to track progress using credible data. The FRSC aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s regional economic integration agenda, which focuses on safer trade corridors, smart traffic technology, and improved border infrastructure management. Mohammed cited the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor as a key area for intervention, highlighting the FRSC’s role in enhancing mobility, improving traffic management, and supporting the seamless movement of people and goods.
He extended gratitude to partners such as the World Health Organisation and the ECOWAS Commission for their technical support, emphasizing that while ratification was a significant step, implementation is the true challenge, and saving lives should be the ultimate goal. Representing Nigeria’s Ministry of Transportation, Deputy Director Mr. Abubakar El-Nafaty described the event as timely and significant. He urged governments and stakeholders to translate policy commitments into measurable actions across Africa and called for the adoption of innovation and technology in transport safety management.
Additionally, Mr. Olarenwaju Olatunji, Focal Person for the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety Injury and Prevention, emphasized that discussions on road safety must lead to practical actions. He stressed that sustained implementation is critical to reducing injuries, crashes, and preventable deaths. The event also featured a public lecture by Mr. Wale Ajala, Acting Director of the IT Services Directorate at the ECOWAS Commission, along with goodwill messages from other stakeholders.