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 Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians of its full readiness for the 2027 General Election despite delays in the passage of the amended Electoral Act at the National Assembly.

INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), stated this on Wednesday at the Commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations in Abuja.

The Commission said it has already finalised its election timetable and schedule of activities in line with existing legal provisions.

Amupitan explained that while INEC has submitted its recommendations to the National Assembly, the timing and content of the amended Act could affect some aspects of the election schedule.

“While we have made our submissions to the National Assembly, the passage of the amendment may have implications for certain items in our timetable. However, for now, the Commission has no choice but to operate within the framework of the subsisting Electoral Act,” he said.

At the meeting, the INEC chairman also called on CSOs to intensify efforts to mobilise residents of the Federal Capital Territory to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.

“The ongoing PVC distribution in the FCT will end on 10th February 2026, and we do not want anyone to be disenfranchised. As partners, we urge you to help mobilise FCT residents to go out and collect their PVCs,” he said.

Beyond PVC collection, Amupitan urged CSOs to help monitor political parties’ conduct during campaigns and promote peaceful participation.

“Let’s work together to monitor the activities of the political parties, especially their campaigns and general conduct in the election. Let’s sensitise the public, particularly party members, to refrain from hate speech, vote buying, misinformation, disinformation and violence, and to conduct their activities strictly within the framework of the law,” he added.

Providing an update on preparations, Amupitan said the FCT Area Council elections would involve 1,680,315 registered voters across 2,822 polling units in Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.

“A total of 570 candidates will contest the chairmanship, vice-chairmanship and councillorship positions,” he said.

According to him, INEC has delivered and batched non-sensitive materials at Area Council offices, concluded recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, and is configuring BVAS devices for accreditation and upload of results to the IReV portal.

He said sensitive materials would be delivered a day before the polls.

He announced a mock accreditation exercise scheduled for Saturday, February 7, in 289 selected polling units across the six Area Councils, adding that 83 domestic and five foreign observer groups had been accredited to monitor the FCT elections.

Amupitan also confirmed that bye-elections would hold the same day in Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies in Rivers State, as well as in Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies in Kano State.

In Rivers State, he said 41,085 registered voters would vote in Ahoada East II across 87 polling units in six wards, while 71,865 voters would cast their ballots in Khana II across 155 polling units in eight wards.

In Kano State, he said 330,228 registered voters would vote in Kano Municipal constituency across 630 polling units in 13 wards, while 205,418 voters would participate in the Ungogo constituency poll across 384 polling units in 11 wards. Ten political parties, he noted, are participating in both bye-elections.

Looking ahead to 2027, Amupitan urged the National Assembly to speed up work on the Electoral Act amendment.

“We seek your support in urging the National Assembly to expedite action on the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act,” he said.

He also announced plans for a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election to strengthen the integrity of the voters’ register.

“A credible register of voters remains the bedrock of free, fair and transparent elections. Accordingly, the Commission will be embarking on a nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election,” Amupitan said.