FRSC: 3,445 Die, 22,292 Injured In Road Crashes Across Nigeria In Nine Months
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed that 3,445 people died while 22,292 others sustained injuries in road traffic crashes across Nigeria between January and September 2026.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, revealed the figures on Monday during a joint press briefing with key stakeholders in Abuja to mark the 2026 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
According to Mohammed, a total of 7,156 road traffic crashes were recorded nationwide within the nine-month period, highlighting the persistent challenge of road safety in the country.
He described the statistics as alarming, noting that every crash represents a human tragedy that leaves families devastated and communities grappling with its consequences.
The FRSC boss identified excessive speeding and dangerous driving behaviours as major contributors to road accidents, stressing the need for motorists to adopt safer driving practices.
He said the corps had intensified enforcement operations, public enlightenment campaigns and stakeholder engagement to reduce road crashes and improve safety on Nigerian roads.
Mohammed also disclosed that the agency was deploying its Road Traffic Crash Database Management System (RTCDMS) to identify accident-prone routes and ensure the strategic deployment of personnel for patrols, surveillance, enforcement and rescue operations.
He reaffirmed the FRSC’s commitment to 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 corps in tackling the menace.
The Corps Marshal further urged motorists to comply with traffic regulations, observe speed limits, avoid distractions and use appropriate safety restraints, while exercising caution around vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Speaking at the event, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Pavel Ursu, said the annual commemoration provided an opportunity to honour victims of road crashes and renew commitments towards preventing avoidable deaths.
Ursu said this year’s theme, “A Light That Unites Us,” underscored the importance of translating remembrance into practical action, empathy into support and awareness into sustained commitment.
He disclosed that approximately 1.2 million people die annually from road traffic crashes globally, with road injuries remaining the leading cause of death among children and young people aged five to 29.
He added that more than 90 per cent of global road traffic fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries.
The WHO representative noted that most road traffic deaths and injuries were preventable through improved road infrastructure, effective law enforcement, safer vehicles, responsible road use and accessible emergency medical services.
He also described the African Road Safety Charter, which came into force on March 12, 2026, as a major milestone, providing the continent with its first legally binding framework for strengthening road safety.
Ursu commended Nigeria for being among the first countries to ratify the charter, stressing that sustained investment in safer roads, enforcement, trauma care and reliable crash data systems would be critical to achieving its objectives.
Also speaking, the focal person for the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic Injury Prevention, Dr Olarenwaju Olatunji, said the annual remembrance extended beyond honouring those who had lost their lives to recognising crash survivors living with injuries and disabilities, affected families and emergency responders.
Olatunji commended the FRSC, WHO, relevant government ministries, development partners and other stakeholders for their contributions to road safety advocacy and implementation in Nigeria.
He also expressed solidarity with families who had lost loved ones and survivors still dealing with the physical and emotional effects of road traffic crashes.
The 2026 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is being observed from November 9 to November 15, with stakeholders renewing calls for collective efforts to prevent avoidable deaths and injuries on Nigerian roads.
