Federal Road Safety Corps on Monday said no fewer than 3,445 persons died in road traffic crashes across Nigeria between January and September 2026.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, disclosed this at a joint press briefing with key stakeholders in commemoration of the 2026 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in Abuja.
Mohammed said the 2026 commemoration, scheduled for Monday (today) to November 15, was designed to transform remembrance into commitment and compassion into measurable action.
He said 7,156 crashes were recorded within the period, leaving 22,292 persons injured.
He described the figures as a reflection of the human cost of road crashes, noting that behind every statistic were lost lives, shattered families and grieving communities.
“These figures represent more than statistics; they are human lives lost, families shattered and communities thrown into grief,” he said.
The corps marshal identified excessive speed and dangerous driving behaviours as major contributors to road traffic crashes (RTCs).
He said the FRSC had continued to intensify enforcement, public enlightenment and stakeholder engagement to improve road safety nationwide.
“Excessive speed and dangerous driving behaviours remain major contributors to road traffic crashes. Every reckless decision on the road has the potential to extinguish a life and leave behind a family in perpetual sorrow.
“We must therefore recognise road safety as both a collective responsibility and a moral obligation.
“As the lead agency responsible for road safety administration and traffic management, the FRSC has continued to intensify enforcement, public enlightenment and stakeholder engagement across the country.
“Through our Road Traffic Crash Database Management System (RTCDMS), we identify high-risk corridors and deploy personnel strategically for targeted patrols, surveillance, enforcement and rescue operations,” he said.
Mohammed 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.
He also urged motorists to obey traffic regulations, respect speed limits, avoid distractions, use appropriate safety restraints and protect vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
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He said the greatest tribute to road traffic victims was to ensure that their memories inspired actions capable of saving other lives.
In his remarks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Pavel Ursu, said the annual commemoration provided an opportunity to remember victims of road crashes and renew commitment to preventing future tragedies.
He said the 2026 theme, “A Light That Unites Us”, called for remembrance to be transformed into action, empathy into support and awareness into lasting commitment.
He said 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 the deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
The WHO representative said the deaths and injuries were 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 provided Africa’s first legally binding framework for improving road safety.
He congratulated Nigeria for being among the first countries to ratify the charter.
He added that sustained investment in safer roads, enforcement, trauma care and crash data systems would be critical to achieving its objectives.
“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,” he said.
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.
Olatunji said it was also an opportunity to acknowledge survivors living with injuries and disabilities, affected families and emergency responders.
He 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 had lost loved ones and survivors still dealing with the consequences of road traffic crashes. (NAN)
