The Federal Road Safety Corps has flagged off the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitisation Campaign, an annual tradition aimed at promoting safety on Nigerian roads.
This is even as the Corps has expressed concern that between 15th December, 2024 and 15th January, 2025, a total of 432 lives were lost while about 2,070 people sustained various degree of injuries in 533 reported cases of road crashes across the country.
The Sector Commander, FRSC in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, Steve Ayodele who flagged off the the campaign in Makurdi the state Capital said the exercise was part of the measures adopted by the Corps to intensify advocacy and public awareness during this period due to increased travel, higher traffic volume, and a rise in road crash injuries and fatalities.
The Sector Commander regretted that the 2024 Operation Zero statistics showed alarming numbers of deaths and injuries due to road crashes, with driver fatigue, overloading, and other violations being major contributors.
He thanked the media for their unwavering commitment to advancing road safety enlightenment.
"Your platforms have played a crucial role in amplifying our voices and increasing road safety awareness in Nigeria".
Dwelling on the theme for this year's campaign, "Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving", Ayodele emphasizes that human factors, particularly drivers behaviour, were the major causes of road crashes in the country.
He said, to address these issues, the FRSC has outlined actionable measures for the 2025 campaign, including deploying personnel on highways, conducting vehicle checks, and organizing awareness as well as raising activities nationwide.
"These efforts aim to reduce road crashes and casualties during the ember months".
Ayodele informed that the FRSC had also engaged in strategic partnerships, capacity building, and advocacy initiatives to improve road safety in the state.
"The upcoming international conference on road crash victims is another step towards addressing road safety challenges in Africa".
He expressed delight with the support of Benue State Government and other stakeholders in the road safety efforts, and urged synergy to create safer roads and a better future for the nation.
"Let us all commit to changing our road traffic behavior for the well-being of all, so that together, we can make a difference in ensuring safer roads and fuller lives for everyone in our beloved nation".
