Abuja: Nigeria recorded a 12 per cent reduction in road traffic crash fatalities in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, announced this during the commemoration of the 2026 West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) Day in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mohammed highlighted the gravity of the situation by pointing out that although Africa accounts for less than three per cent of the world’s registered vehicles, it records over 20 per cent of global road traffic fatalities. He emphasized that the victims often represent human capital and breadwinners, underscoring the urgent need for stronger interventions.
The FRSC’s establishment of WARSO aims to provide a platform for harmonized policies, shared best practices, and joint enforcement strategies among member states. Mohammed noted that the situation in West Africa is alarming, with thousands of citizens lost annually to preventable road crashes.
Mohammed stressed the importance of translating the commitments of the African Road Safety Charter into measurable actions on the roads. He outlined that road traffic injuries and crashes are major concerns globally, with RTCs causing over 1.5 million deaths and 70 million injuries annually. These issues have significant impacts on public health, the economy, and productivity.
He cited a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) analysis and World Bank report (2023) indicating that RTCs account for about a seven per cent loss of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria. To address these challenges, Nigeria has launched the African Association of Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA) Office to deepen road safety management in Africa.
Under the leadership of the FRSC, Nigeria has aligned its National Road Safety Strategy II (2021-2030) with the charter’s provisions. The FRSC has strengthened data management, intensified public enlightenment, and deepened inter-agency collaboration. Initiatives such as enforcing speed limiting devices and introducing the FRSC Mobile App for real-time reporting aim to support these efforts.
Representing Nigeria’s Ministry of Transportation, Deputy Director Mr. Abubakar El-Nafaty emphasized the need for collective efforts to build a safer road culture. He called for increased investment in road safety education, improved road infrastructure, and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations.
In his welcome remarks, FRSC Deputy Corps Marshal (DCM) Planning Research and Statistics (PRS), Clement Oladele, emphasized the necessity of regional cooperation, safer infrastructure investment, and public awareness. He called on policymakers and enforcement agencies to integrate the charter into national laws and ensure fair application of traffic regulations.
Oladele also urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to raise awareness and hold leaders accountable, while encouraging the private sector to invest in safer transport systems. He reminded road users of their responsibility to drive responsibly and adhere to traffic rules.
The DCM expressed optimism that with collective effort, Africa could achieve the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety target of reducing road deaths by 50 per cent by 2030.