The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reported that 3,445 people lost their lives in road traffic crashes across Nigeria between January and September 2026. The figures were disclosed by the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, during a joint press briefing with key stakeholders held in Abuja to mark the 2026 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
According to the Corps Marshal, a total of 7,156 crashes were recorded during the nine-month period, while 22,292 people sustained injuries. He emphasised that these numbers represent far more than statistics, describing them as lost lives, shattered families and communities plunged into grief.
A Call to Turn Remembrance into Action
Mohammed explained that the 2026 commemoration, which runs from Monday to November 15, was designed to transform remembrance into commitment and compassion into measurable action. He noted that behind every figure was a human story of loss and sorrow, underscoring the need for renewed vigilance on the nation’s roads.
The Corps Marshal identified excessive speed and dangerous driving behaviours as major contributors to road traffic crashes. He stressed that every reckless decision on the road carries the potential to extinguish a life and leave a family in perpetual sorrow, adding that road safety must be recognised as both a collective responsibility and a moral obligation.
FRSC Intensifies Enforcement and Data-Driven Patrols
As the lead agency responsible for road safety administration and traffic management, the FRSC has continued to intensify enforcement, public enlightenment and stakeholder engagement nationwide. Mohammed explained that through the Road Traffic Crash Database Management System (RTCDMS), the corps identifies high-risk corridors and deploys personnel strategically for targeted patrols, surveillance, enforcement and rescue operations.
He reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to implementing the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, which seeks to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 per cent by 2030. He called on government agencies, transport unions, the media, civil society organisations and emergency response agencies to strengthen collaboration with the FRSC.
Motorists were also urged to obey traffic regulations, respect speed limits, avoid distractions, use appropriate safety restraints and protect vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Mohammed stated that the greatest tribute to road traffic victims was to ensure their memories inspired actions capable of saving other lives.
WHO Highlights Global Toll and Prevention Measures
In his remarks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Pavel Ursu, said the annual commemoration offered an opportunity to remember victims of road crashes and renew commitment to preventing future tragedies. He noted that the 2026 theme, “A Light That Unites Us”, calls for remembrance to be transformed into action, empathy into support and awareness into lasting commitment.
Ursu revealed that approximately 1.2 million people die annually in road traffic crashes globally, with injuries remaining the leading cause of death among children and young people aged five to 29 years. He added that more than 90 per cent of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
The WHO representative stressed that these deaths and injuries are preventable through safer road infrastructure, stronger enforcement, improved road user behaviour, safer vehicles and effective post-crash care. He described the entry into force of the African Road Safety Charter on March 12, 2026, as a significant milestone, noting that it provides Africa’s first legally binding framework for improving road safety. He congratulated Nigeria for being among the first countries to ratify the charter.
Ursu added that sustained investment in safer roads, enforcement, trauma care and crash data systems would be critical to achieving the charter’s objectives, and reaffirmed that WHO and the wider UN system will continue to support Nigeria through evidence-based policies, stronger institutions, safer infrastructure, improved crash data systems and enhanced emergency services.
Recognising Survivors and Emergency Responders
Also speaking, Dr Olarenwaju Olatunji, focal person for the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic Injury Prevention (UNDARSTIP), said the annual commemoration was more than an occasion to remember those who had lost their lives. He noted that it was also an opportunity to acknowledge survivors living with injuries and disabilities, affected families and emergency responders.
Olatunji thanked the FRSC, WHO, relevant ministries, departments and agencies, development partners and other stakeholders for their contributions to road safety advocacy and implementation in Nigeria. He also expressed solidarity with families who have lost loved ones and with survivors still dealing with the consequences of road traffic crashes.
