FRSC Targets 50% Reduction in Road Deaths by 2030 as Fatalities Decline

By Benson Daniel

The Federal Road Safety Corps has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing road traffic fatalities in Nigeria by 50 per cent by 2030, with the agency pointing to recent improvements in crash statistics as evidence that its interventions are beginning to yield results.

The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, said Nigeria was on course to achieve the ambitious road safety target through stronger enforcement, public education, improved data management and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

The commitment aligns with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021 to 2030, which calls for countries to cut road traffic deaths and injuries by at least half before the end of the decade. The global target was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as part of efforts to address the growing burden of road crashes worldwide.

According to the FRSC, Nigeria recorded a 12 per cent reduction in road traffic crash fatalities during the first quarter of 2026 compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

Mohammed said the reduction was encouraging but stressed that the figures remained a major concern given the number of lives still being lost on Nigerian roads.

He said road crashes remained largely preventable and required sustained action involving government agencies, transport operators, motorists, road users and other stakeholders.

The FRSC has strengthened its data management systems through the National Crash Information System, while continuing public enlightenment campaigns aimed at discouraging dangerous driving practices.

The agency has also promoted the use of speed limiting devices and introduced digital tools, including its mobile application, to improve reporting and strengthen road safety monitoring.

Speeding remains one of the major factors associated with serious crashes in Nigeria. Other risks include dangerous overtaking, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, vehicle overloading, fatigue and poor compliance with traffic regulations.

Beyond driver behaviour, the FRSC has stressed the importance of safer road infrastructure. The agency has been working with international partners to identify high risk sections of Nigerian roads and develop targeted interventions to improve their safety standards.

In 2025, the FRSC entered into a national partnership with the International Road Assessment Programme to strengthen road safety assessments and identify dangerous road sections requiring intervention. The initiative is also aligned with Nigeria’s commitment to achieving the 50 per cent reduction target by 2030.

The agency has also called for stronger collaboration among federal and state institutions, private sector operators and civil society organisations, arguing that road safety cannot be achieved through enforcement alone.

Nigeria recorded more than 10,000 road traffic crashes in 2025, with over 5,000 people losing their lives, according to figures released by the FRSC. The statistics underscore the scale of the challenge confronting the country despite recent improvements.

The Corps Marshal has therefore urged motorists to take greater responsibility for their safety and that of other road users, particularly by obeying speed limits, avoiding dangerous manoeuvres and ensuring that vehicles are properly maintained.

He also stressed the need for continued investment in road safety infrastructure, emergency response systems and public awareness.

With four years remaining until the 2030 deadline, the FRSC says the recent decline in fatalities provides a basis for optimism but acknowledges that significantly greater efforts will be required to achieve the overall target.

The agency’s position is that sustained enforcement, improved road design, better vehicle standards and responsible behaviour by motorists can collectively transform Nigeria’s road safety situation.

For millions of Nigerians who depend on road transportation every day, achieving the 2030 target would represent a significant reduction in preventable deaths and injuries and provide safer movement of people and goods across the country.