Ember Months And The Importance Of Maintaining Safety On Our Roads -By Tochukwu Jimo Obi

The ember months are here again, bringing with them increased human and vehicular activities as the year gradually winds down. Traditionally, this period is associated with increased movement of people, commercial activities, social engagements and long distance journeys across the country. Unfortunately, it is also a period when Nigeria often witnesses a surge in road traffic crashes, with the resultant fatalities and injuries. This calls for renewed commitment by all road users and stakeholders to ensure that the roads remain safe.

Over the years, Nigeria has continued to record more than 5,000 reported deaths annually from road traffic crashes, a disturbing trend that must not be allowed to continue. Behind every fatal crash is a family that loses a loved one, a breadwinner, a parent, a child or a friend. Beyond the immediate loss of lives, road crashes also leave thousands of people with injuries, disabilities and psychological trauma, while imposing enormous economic and social costs on families and the nation.

Available statistics from the Federal Road Safety Corps show the seriousness of the situation. The FRSC recorded 9,570 road traffic crashes, 5,421 deaths and 31,154 injuries in 2024, compared with 10,446 crashes, 5,289 deaths and 33,400 injuries in 2025. Although there was a 2.4 per cent reduction in the number of deaths in 2025 compared with 2024, the number of injured persons increased by 7.2 per cent, while serious crashes rose by 10.5 per cent. These figures demonstrate that much more needs to be done.

The reforms being introduced by the FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, and his strategic approach to addressing the factors responsible for road crashes deserve commendation. The Corps has continued to explore operational measures aimed at reducing crashes and improving compliance among road users. One notable example is the special operation against articulated vehicle related crashes along the Abuja Keffi road, particularly the Kugbo axis, which the Corps Marshal has been personally monitoring, as well robust public enlightenment of road users across Nigeria.
Such targeted interventions should be sustained and replicated in other parts of the country where similar problems exist.

Human behaviour remains a major factor in many road traffic crashes. Speed violations, driving while using mobile phones, dangerous overtaking, fatigue, poor vehicle maintenance, disregard for traffic regulations and embarking on long journeys without adequate rest are among the practices that continue to endanger lives. Drivers must understand that reaching a destination a few minutes earlier is never worth risking a human life. The ember months should therefore not become a period of reckless driving, but a time for greater caution, patience and responsibility.

The movement of articulated vehicles during busy periods on major roads also requires urgent attention. While truck drivers and operators have legitimate economic responsibilities, their movements must be properly regulated to minimise conflicts with other road users, particularly in densely populated areas and during peak traffic periods. The success of the special operation along the Abuja Keffi Kugbo axis should encourage the development of similar coordinated interventions across the federation, involving the FRSC, state traffic management agencies, the police, transport unions and other relevant stakeholders.

However, road safety cannot be left to the FRSC alone. The causes of road traffic crashes are multidimensional and require a coordinated response. State and local governments, road construction agencies, vehicle inspection authorities, transport operators, vehicle owners, driving schools, security agencies and individual road users all have important roles to play. The Federal Government must also give road safety the level of attention it gives to the aviation sector. Virtually everyone uses the roads, and road traffic crashes do not discriminate on the basis of status, age, profession or social standing.

Government must equally ensure that roads across the country are motorable and equipped with appropriate safety infrastructure. Proper road markings, warning signs, functioning traffic signals, adequate drainage, guardrails and other safety measures should be provided and maintained. Solar powered street lighting should also be installed at appropriate locations, particularly on dangerous and accident prone sections of highways, to improve visibility at night. It is unacceptable for motorists to be expected to observe safety rules on roads that themselves are poorly maintained or inadequately equipped.

Finally, the FRSC must be adequately funded and equipped to enable it meet its objective of achieving a significant and sustained reduction in road crashes and fatalities. Equally important is the welfare of the men and women of the Corps who work tirelessly, often under difficult and dangerous conditions, to save lives and enforce road safety regulations. Their commitment deserves recognition, and improved remuneration and welfare should form part of the broader effort to motivate them. As the ember months unfold, every Nigerian must remember that road safety is a collective responsibility. Saving lives on our roads requires responsible drivers, safer vehicles, better roads, effective enforcement and a government that treats road safety as a national priority.

Tochukwu Jimo Obi.
Obosi, Anambra state.