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Shettima urges 50% reduction in road crash deaths by 2030

Published

8 months ago

September 3, 2025

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for concrete and collaborative efforts to reduce road crash fatalities and injuries in Nigeria by 50 per cent by the year 2030.

Shettima urged stakeholders to embrace global best practices and implement realistic strategies to enhance safety on the nation’s highways.

He made the call at the 8th Annual Lecture Series of the Federal Road Safety Corps on Wednesday in Abuja.

The event brought together government officials, transport experts, and road safety stakeholders to discuss the theme, “Road Safety Management and Emerging Transportation Trends: Global Partnership and Optimal Performance.”

FRSC had revealed that between January and June 2025 alone, 5,281 crashes were recorded, involving 39,793 individuals. Of these, 2,838 lives were lost while 17,818 people were rescued.

In his keynote address, Shettima described the theme as timely and relevant, noting that it aims to address the growing challenges in the road transportation sector by drawing on international best practices.

“Indeed the theme of this lecture is timely. It also seeks to address the challenges of emerging trend in road transportation using global partnership as leverage to adopt global best practices on road safety issues.

“I also urge you all to deliberate on practicable and applicable measures that will sanitise our highways with a view to achieving the target of 50 per cent reduction of crash fatalities/injuries by the year 2030,” Shettima said.

The Vice President said the annual lecture series is an opportunity for the FRSC to “review its performance, identify areas of need, and raise awareness on road safety issues in Nigeria.”

He noted that previous editions of the series had contributed to positive outcomes, including safer driving habits and improved emergency response.

Highlighting the FRSC’s growing regional influence, the Vice President commended the Corps for its achievements.

“I wish to commend the FRSC for its numerous laudable achievements, which placed Nigeria on the focus as a lead country in road safety management in the West Africa sub-region as well as in Africa in general,” he said.

Shettima reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the FRSC, especially through legislative backing and institutional strengthening.

He noted that the FRSC Amendment Bill had already passed third reading in the House of Representatives and is awaiting concurrence in the Senate.

“I wish to assure you that the government will continue to promote compliance to global best practices in road safety by supporting innovations that strengthen the Corps to ensure compliance to road safety laws and regulations,” he added.

Shettima urged participants to focus on actionable outcomes that can directly improve safety on Nigerian roads.

In his goodwill message, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, called for intensified efforts in road safety management across Nigeria, urging FRSC and stakeholders to aim for a “zero-death” record during the forthcoming Ember Months.

“As we deliberate on the way forward, I enjoin the corps to put up practicable measures towards achieving zero deaths in road crashes during the Yuletide and the New Year celebrations,” he stated.

Akume commended the corps for its consistent efforts in promoting road safety awareness, vehicle maintenance, and standard-setting for fleet operators nationwide.

He highlighted that while developed nations have adopted stringent measures to sanitise their road networks, the FRSC’s lecture series offers Nigeria a valuable opportunity to assess and enhance its performance in line with global best practices.

He added that the FRSC’s efforts are in alignment with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in promoting sustainable and safe mobility for Nigerians.

In his address, the FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed called for renewed national and global partnerships to tackle Nigeria’s persistent road safety challenges.

The event marked the revival of the FRSC Lecture Series, which was last held in 2017. Mohammed explained that the decision to bring back the series in 2025 aligns with FG’s Renewed Hope Agenda and aims to promote sustainable transportation and public health.

“The theme was also carefully selected to align with the United Nations Assembly resolutions for Africa to implement measures that could reduce road crash fatalities and injuries by 50 per cent by the year 2030,” he said.

Despite the FRSC’s efforts in enforcement, public enlightenment, and advocacy, Mohammed acknowledged the ongoing challenges reflected in Nigeria’s road crash data.

“Current data on road crashes reveal a yearly average of about 5,000 persons killed and 31,154 persons injured.

“These figures underscore the need for the corps to do more in harnessing resources towards implementing the national road safety development plan as captured in the National Road Safety Strategy document,” he said.

The corps marshal expressed optimism that the resolutions from the lecture would translate into effective policies and behavioural change on Nigerian roads.

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Senate names new minority whip as two more senators defect to APC

Published

5 hours ago

April 22, 2026

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The Senate on Wednesday appointed Senator Tony Nwoye as the new Minority Whip, following a fresh wave of defections that has further boosted the numerical strength of the All Progressives Congress in the upper chamber.

Nwoye, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District, was unanimously selected by the Senate minority caucus to fill the vacancy created by the exit of his predecessor.

His emergence comes on the heels of the defection of former Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC on Wednesday, one of several high-profile crossovers that altered the balance within the opposition ranks.

In a letter read on the floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ngwu said his decision was driven by the need to align with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu.

He also described the APC as the most stable political platform in the country.

Nwoye was elected into the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party before defecting to the African Democratic Congress in late 2025, positioning him within the opposition bloc prior to his new leadership role.

The reshuffle in minority leadership came amid a broader pattern of defections that has steadily eroded the strength of opposition parties in the Senate since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

In a related development, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, representing Gombe South, also announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, citing internal crises within the opposition party.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, formally announced his defection from the Social Democratic Party to the APC.

Wadada, who has also been endorsed as the APC consensus governorship candidate for Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 elections, said he had previously aligned with the ruling party but completed the formal procedures of his defection on Wednesday.

Reacting to the developments, Senator Adams Oshiomhole commended the lawmakers, describing their defections as voluntary and consistent with constitutional provisions.

He said the increasing movement of legislators into the APC reflects growing confidence in the party’s leadership and the administration of President Tinubu.

With the latest defections, the APC’s strength in the Senate has risen to 91 lawmakers—further consolidating its dominance and tightening its grip on legislative proceedings as political realignments gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Lagos clarifies sanitation modalities, warns defaulters ahead of April 25

Published

6 hours ago

April 22, 2026

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The Lagos State Government has provided further details on the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said, “The exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 am and 8:30 am.

During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages.”

He stated that enforcement teams comprising officials of the ministry, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline, Lagos Waste Management Authority, and local government sanitation inspectors would “conduct physical inspections during and after the sanitation window to ensure compliance,” warning that “defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.”

Wahab also stated, “LAWMA intervention trucks will go around to cart away bagged wastes generated during the exercise,” noting that “there will be rewards for the cleanest Local Government Area, Local Council Development Area, and the cleanest street as part of efforts to encourage healthy competition and community participation.”

He urged residents to cooperate with the initiative, saying, “We urge all residents to take ownership of this exercise and join hands with the government in building a cleaner, safer and more sustainable Lagos.”

The clarification follows the symbolic flag-off of the exercise along the Mushin–Agege Motor Road corridor on March 14, ahead of its full implementation later this month.

The state government had earlier announced in March that the sanitation exercise would resume nearly a decade after it was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the programme.

While some residents have welcomed the move, saying it could curb indiscriminate waste disposal and reduce flooding, others have raised concerns about enforcement, warning that movement restrictions could be abused and calling for sustained public education on proper waste management.

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Court remands suspected coup plotters in DSS custody

Published

6 hours ago

April 22, 2026

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of six defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services after they were arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism.

At the sitting, which commenced at about 1:46pm, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), informed the court that the charge was ready and sought leave to have it read to the defendants.

Proceedings were briefly stalled after the third defendant informed the court that his counsel was indisposed, while counsel to the sixth defendant said his client understood only Arabic and Hausa, prompting the court to stand down the matter to secure an interpreter.

When the court reconvened at about 2:18 pm, all six defendants took their pleas and denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to the 13 counts.

Following the arraignment, the prosecution applied for their remand in DSS custody and urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case, a request that was not opposed by most defence counsel, although the first defendant’s lawyer indicated an intention to file a bail application.

Ruling, the trial judge ordered an accelerated hearing, directed that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody with access to their lawyers, and adjourned the matter till April 27, 2026, for commencement of trial.