The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has revealed that 3,433 persons lost their lives in road crashes across Nigeria between January and September 2025, while 22,162 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in 6,858 reported accidents during the same period.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the flag-off of the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitisation Campaign, where he also announced the introduction of a contactless biometric driver’s licence system aimed at improving efficiency and eliminating delays.
Mohammed noted that while the figures remain concerning, they reflect a decline compared to 2024, an indication that ongoing interventions were yielding positive results.
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He cautioned motorists against speeding, overloading, night journeys, and the use of mobile phones while driving, urging patience and vigilance as road traffic increases towards the end of the year.
“From our 2024 Operation Zero, which ran from December 15, 2024, to January 15, 2025, we recorded 432 deaths and 2,070 injuries from 533 crashes. But between January and September 2025, our data shows 3,433 deaths and 22,162 injuries from 6,858 crashes,” he said. “Though the figures are still high, it’s a reduction compared to the same period last year. We will continue to intensify campaigns and enforcement to bring the numbers further down.”
On the newly launched contactless driver’s licence system, Mohammed explained that the technology would simplify the process and eliminate the issuance of temporary licences.
“It’s seamless now. You don’t need to put your hand on a device for fingerprint capture. The new system automatically captures your details and synchronises them with our database. Applicants will get their driver’s licences instantly — no more waiting for weeks or months,” he said.
During a visit to the FRSC Driver’s Licence Print Farm, the Deputy Corps Marshal (Motor Vehicle Administration), Aliyu Datsama, said the Corps had ramped up production to clear the backlog of pending licences.
“We now work 24/7 because of the backlog. Out of 800,000 pending licences, we’ve reduced it to 400,000. Our daily production is 40,000, and in the next few weeks, we’ll clear everything by the grace of God,” Datsama said.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Command of the FRSC also launched its 2025 Ember Months Campaign in Minna, themed “Take Responsibility for Your Safety, Stop Distracted Driving.”
Sector Commander Aishat Saadu said the campaign underscores the human factor as the major cause of road crashes. She revealed that between December 2024 and January 2025, 46 persons were killed, 205 injured, and 432 involved in 47 crashes across the state.
She listed excessive speeding, overloading, route violations, driving against traffic, and wrongful overtaking as the leading causes of crashes. Saadu also confirmed that the command had deployed personnel, organised town hall meetings, and set up mobile courts to curb violations.
She commended the Niger State Government for its continuous support and urged motorists to obey traffic rules and prioritise safety during the festive period.
(Guardian)
