Abuja: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called on Nigerian youths to take the lead in championing safer roads across the country. The FCT Sector Commander, Mr. Felix Theman, made the call in Abuja, at the 2025 Road Safety Hangout, to commemorate the United Nations International Youth Week. The theme of this year’s event is: Safer Roads, Brighter Future; Youth Leading the Change.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event aligns with the UN International Youth Week theme: ‘Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond’. Theman emphasized that the active participation of the youths, their discipline, and commitment are crucial to achieving a brighter and safer future for the country. He added that the hangout was designed to celebrate the energy and potential of young people and their critical role in shaping a safer and more sustainable nation.
‘The road to progress is not just paved with good intentions, but with active participation, responsibility and the courage to act. Our youth are not mere passengers on this journey. They are the drivers steering us toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those linked to safety, health and sustainable cities,’ said Theman.
The sector commander stated that empowering young people with road safety knowledge and leadership opportunities is an investment with lifelong dividends. He urged youths to adopt responsible driving habits, embrace technology for safer mobility, engage in peer-to-peer education, and champion community safety initiatives.
Theman expressed concern over the unsafe driving behaviors of some young road users, including commercial motorcycle riders, tricycle operators, ride-hailing drivers, and others. He highlighted statistics showing high fatality rates among young drivers and the dangers posed to other road users by risky driving practices.
He further stressed that a safe driving culture would yield enormous gains and urged the youth to be agents of change on all issues affecting the nation. Theman commended the Ministry of Youth Development, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and various youth groups for supporting the initiative.
Highlighting challenges facing road users in the FCT, Theman listed impatience, disobedience of traffic lights, driving against traffic, and use of handsets while driving as major concerns. He also mentioned overloading, illegal parking, and failure to use pedestrian bridges as issues leading to gridlocks, crashes, and fatalities.
Theman disclosed that the FRSC had increased enforcement through mobile court sessions targeting recurring offences, leading to the arrest of over 250 drivers and riders for more than 550 offences with penalties including community service, driver’s licence suspension, and fines.