Abuja: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reintroduced its Annual Lecture Series after an eight-year hiatus, with the aim of improving road safety management and forging international partnerships across Nigeria. At the 8th edition held in Abuja, the Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, emphasized the event’s role in raising awareness and addressing the ongoing issue of road traffic crashes.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Corps Marshal Mohammed highlighted road crashes as a pressing public health concern requiring immediate national attention. He affirmed the corps’ dedication to adopting global strategies and partnerships to enhance road safety outcomes. Mohammed recalled the inaugural lecture in 2009, themed ‘Sustainable Development and Road Safety,’ which served as an annual platform for advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
Despite the absence of the lecture series since 2017, its revival in 2025 aims to implement global best practices as solutions for road safety challenges in Nigeria and Af
rica. The initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on sustainable transport development and improved public health through safer road systems. The 2025 theme, ‘Road Safety Management and Emerging Transportation Trends: Global Partnership and Optimal Performance,’ was chosen to address evolving transportation challenges.
Mohammed cited alarming statistics, with an annual average of 5,000 deaths and over 31,000 injuries resulting from road crashes in Nigeria. He underscored the necessity for strategic resource mobilisation to fully implement the National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS), deemed the blueprint for multi-level road safety governance. The Corps Marshal expressed confidence that the lecture’s resolutions would provide valuable insights for the national strategy’s successful implementation.
Furthermore, Mohammed highlighted the National Road Safety Advisory Council’s (NaRSAC) pivotal role, chaired by the Vice President, in aligning stakeholder roles within the NRSS fr
amework. NaRSAC is expected to foster effective collaboration among government agencies, private sector actors, and civil society groups to achieve NRSS objectives. Acknowledging the Federal Government’s support, Mohammed expressed optimism about the pending FRSC Amendment Bill, which could strengthen enforcement powers and enhance service delivery.
Retired Deputy Corps Marshal (DCM) Bisi Kazeem welcomed the lecture’s revival, emphasizing its significance as a platform for advocacy and national development through improved road safety practices. Initiated by former Corps Marshal Osita Chidoka, the lecture series aimed to raise awareness and engage stakeholders in reducing road crashes. Kazeem noted that the lecture’s return demonstrated FRSC’s renewed commitment to advancing the national road safety dialogue.
Mr Muhammad Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), urged the media to amplify road safety messages and support the transition to smart traffic systems. He praised the FRSC’s effort
s in reducing road deaths and stressed the need for stronger media collaboration to ensure widespread acceptance of road safety campaigns.
The event, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, was attended by top dignitaries and stakeholders, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen. George Akume. Keynote speaker Mr Saul Billingsley, Executive Director of the FIA Foundation, London, addressed the forum alongside various government officials, private sector partners, and civil society leaders.