The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.

“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.

Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025. Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.

The corps marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025.

However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.

“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed said.

The corps marshal explained that the reduction indicated improvements in post-crash response, but stressed that it fell short of the corps’ strategic target of a 10 per cent reduction in fatalities.

“While this reduction confirms that post-crash response interventions are working, it fell short of the corps’ strategic target of a 10 per cent fatality reduction and confirms that the challenge before us is no longer response alone, but prevention, compliance and deterrence,” he explained.

Mohammed also disclosed that traffic offences increased in 2025, reflecting higher road exposure and risky driving behaviour.

“The number of offenders arrested increased from 453,304 in 2024 to 581,332 in 2025, representing an increase of 128,028 arrests, which translates to a 28.3 per cent rise.

“Similarly, offences booked rose from 496,799 in 2024 to 648,918 in 2025, an increase of 152,119 offences, amounting to a 30.6 per cent increase.

“This upward trend reflects intensified patrol operations, improved surveillance, and a more robust enforcement strategy aimed at promoting road discipline and enhancing overall safety on Nigerian roads,” the corps marshal explained.

According to the report, passenger and vehicle movement also increased during the year. Passenger traffic rose from 45.16 million in 2024 to 47.47 million in 2025, while the number of vehicles travelling increased from 3.65 million to 3.74 million. Luxury bus operations expanded from 26,728 to 29,844 trips, and total kilometres covered rose from 4.07 billion to 4.88 billion kilometres.

The corps marshal further stated that the December 2025 festive operation period (December 15–January 15) saw increases across key crash indicators.

“Total road traffic crashes rose from 665 in 2024/2025 to 687 in 2025/2026, representing a 3.4 per cent increase. The number of persons involved increased from 5,761 to 5,942, while fatalities rose from 571 to 597, a 4.2 per cent increase. Injuries also increased from 2,462 to 2,522,” he explained.

He added that the number of people rescued without injury increased from 2,697 to 2,792, noting that “these figures demonstrate that while interventions saved lives, risky road user behaviour continues to undermine safety during peak travel periods.”

Mohammed identified several corridors that recorded deadly crashes during the festive period, including Benin–Asaba–Awka, which recorded 12 deaths; Zuba–Kaduna–Zaria, with 39 deaths; Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Darazo–Potiskum, which claimed 49 lives; Abuja–Lokoja, with 28 deaths; Mai Adua–Daura–Kazaure–Dambata, with 18 deaths; and Enugu–Umuahia–Aba, where 11 fatalities were recorded.

The corps marshal added, “These largely avoidable crashes were primarily caused by speeding, dangerous overtaking, loss of control, tyre burst and brake failure—clear indicators of reckless driving and poor vehicle condition,” he explained.

He explained speeding remained the single greatest threat on Nigerian roads, accounting for 41 per cent of crashes in December 2025.

“Causation analysis remains unequivocal. Speed limit violations accounted for 41 per cent of all identified causes of road traffic crashes in December 2025.

“Speed remains the single greatest threat to life on Nigerian roads. The data is clear: speed kills, indiscipline sustains crashes, and disciplined enforcement saves lives,” he said.

During the December festive period, the number of offenders apprehended rose from 28,170 in the 2024/2025 season to 29,317 in 2025/2026, while recorded offences increased from 31,829 to 33,190. Mohammed attributed the trend to a deliberate shift towards firmer and more visible enforcement.

To address the rising trend in crashes, the FRSC announced new policy directives for 2026, including intelligence-led enforcement, zero tolerance for major traffic offences and stricter speed management, particularly for commercial vehicles.

Mohammed stressed that while improved post-crash response saved lives in 2025, the corps’ priority in the coming year would be prevention, behavioural compliance and rigorous enforcement to reduce both crashes and fatalities nationwide.

He explained, “The corps will implement the following policy directions as standing operational orders: First, all Commands shall transition from routine patrols to intelligence-led, risk-based enforcement.

“The corps will enforce zero tolerance on the ‘Big Five’ offences responsible for over 70 per cent of fatal and serious crashes: speed violation, dangerous driving, drunk or drug-impaired driving, wrong-way driving, and overloading.

“Speed management will be elevated from routine enforcement to national operational priority. Full compliance with the installation of speed limit devices on all commercial vehicles will be enforced, including re-certification audits and public sanctioning of non-compliant fleet operators.

“Public enlightenment will shift from general awareness to behaviour-change communication, with segmented messaging for commercial drivers, private motorists, motorcyclists and fleet operators.”

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Nearly four in every ten cancer cases recorded globally are linked to preventable risk factors, the World Health Organisation has warned, saying millions of lives could be saved if countries invest more aggressively in prevention.

The WHO made stated this in a statement on Tuesday while releasing a new global analysis conducted with its International Agency for Research on Cancer, ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4.

According to the report, “up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented… 37 per cent of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2022 — estimated at about 7.1 million — were caused by factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation and cancer-causing infections.”

Describing the findings as a wake-up call, WHO Team Lead for Cancer Control, Dr André Ilbawi, said the analysis clearly shows that many cancers are not inevitable.

“This is the first global analysis to demonstrate, at this scale, how much cancer risk comes from causes we can prevent,” Ilbawi said, adding that the data provides “governments and individuals with actionable evidence to stop many cancers before they start.”

Drawing on data from 185 countries and 36 cancer types, the study identified tobacco as the leading preventable cause of cancer worldwide, responsible for 15 per cent of all new cases. Infections followed at 10 per cent, while alcohol consumption accounted for three per cent.

Ilbawi noted that these figures highlight where policy action would have the greatest impact.

“By addressing tobacco use, infections and alcohol consumption alone, countries could dramatically reduce their cancer burden,” he said.

The report showed that lung, stomach and cervical cancers together accounted for nearly half of all preventable cancer cases globally.

Lung cancer was largely associated with smoking and air pollution, stomach cancer with Helicobacter pylori infection, and cervical cancer almost entirely with human papillomavirus.

“This study confirms that vaccines, clean air and healthier lifestyles are powerful cancer-prevention tools,” Ilbawi said.

The burden of preventable cancer was found to be significantly higher among men than women. While 45 per cent of new cancer cases in men were linked to preventable causes, the figure stood at 30 per cent for women.

Among men, smoking alone accounted for 23 per cent of new cancer cases, followed by infections and alcohol. Among women, infections were the leading preventable cause, followed by smoking and high body mass index.

Deputy Head of the IARC Cancer Surveillance Unit and senior author of the study, Dr Isabelle Soerjomataram, said the findings underscore the urgency of prevention-focused policies.

“This landmark analysis shows that tackling preventable causes remains one of the most powerful ways to reduce the global cancer burden,” Soerjomataram said. “Prevention is not optional — it is essential.”

She stressed that cancer prevention must go beyond the health sector.

“Strong tobacco control, alcohol regulation, vaccination, cleaner air, safer workplaces and healthier food environments are critical if countries are serious about reducing cancer,” she said.

The report also revealed wide regional disparities. Preventable cancer cases among women ranged from 24 per cent in North Africa and West Asia to 38 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, while among men, East Asia recorded the highest burden at 57 per cent.

According to the WHO, these differences reflect variations in exposure to risk factors, national prevention policies and health-system capacity.

Calling for coordinated action, the organisation said preventing cancer would not only save lives but also reduce long-term healthcare costs and improve overall population wellbeing.

“Cancer prevention is a shared responsibility. When governments act early, millions of families can be spared the physical, emotional and financial burden of a cancer diagnosis, ” Ilbawi said.

The first clinical trial for the treatment of colorectal cancer has been launched at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Under the initiative, colorectal cancer patients will receive free treatment from the OAUTH, Lagos University Teaching Hospital and Medserve’s NSIA-Diagnostic Centre, Lagos.

Addressing journalists at an event to formally unveil the initiative at the OAUTH complex in Ile Ife, on Wednesday, a Professor of Surgery at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences at Obafemi Awolowo University, Olusegun Alatise, said the breakthrough in the treatment of colorectal cancer was a result of a collaboration involving experts from different institutions.

Alatise, who noted that experts from OAU worked with their colleagues from Lagos University Teaching Hospital and Medserve, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, a global leader in cancer care based in the United States, on the project, further said the experts explored the use of a type of immunotherapy called PD-1 blockade in patients with mismatch-repair-deficient colorectal cancer.

Describing the initiative as the “first clinical trial in sub-Saharan Africa to utilise immunotherapy, a treatment that uses a person’s own immune system to fight cancer,” Alatise further stated that colorectal cancer remains a growing health problem in the country with less than half of the patients living one year after diagnosis.

Highlighting other gains of the clinical trial in the management of colorectal cancer in the country, Alatise, who is the National Director, African Research Group for Oncology and a Consultant General Surgeon at the OAUTH, said the research had secured approval of the National Health Research Ethics Committee, an organisation responsible for ensuring that all health research conducted in Nigeria is ethical and globally compliant, and the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control.

“The approval of this trial marks an important milestone in the fight against colorectal cancer in Nigeria. Our research could provide vital insights into novel treatment strategies, particularly for patients with limited therapeutic options due to genetic mutations.

“First clinical trial using immunotherapy in Nigeria is now enrolling patients with colorectal Cancer. The historic clinical trial is a global effort between Obafemi Awolowo University, Logos University Teaching Hospital, and Medserve in Nigeria and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in the United States.

“As the study sponsor and data coordinating centre, investigators from MSK will work closely with teams from OAU, LUTH, and Medserve on the research. Additionally, BeOne Medicines will supply and distribute the immunotherapy drug tislelizumab, and BioVentures for Global Health will support the
regulatory approvals in Nigeria.

“We are proud to be part of this groundbreaking trial that brings cutting-edge immunotherapy closer to Nigerian patients with colorectal cancer. This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to advancing cancer care and ensuring that our patients benefit from the very best of global research,” Alatise said.

With the commencement of the trial, Alatise urged patients managing the ailment to approach OAUTH, LUTH and Medserve’s NSIA-Diagnostic Centre, Lagos, for enrollment before treatment at no cost.

The announcement of the commencement of the first clinical trial for colorectal cancer came on this year’s occasion of World Cancer Day celebrations.

World Cancer Day is an international day marked on 4 February to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.