The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the lives of Nigerian students and other road users, following a high-level meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at its headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting, convened by Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, was prompted by recent fatal crashes involving articulated trucks that claimed the lives of students in Edo State.
Expressing deep condolences, the Corps Marshal described every life lost on Nigerian roads as “a wound to the conscience of the nation.”
He assured students that their concerns are shaping deliberate actions to curb reckless driving and truck-related accidents.
“Our students are the future of this country. Losing them to avoidable crashes is highly unacceptable.
This meeting is not about shifting blame but finding lasting solutions together.
FRSC is prepared to work hand in hand with NANS to ensure that no family has to mourn a child because of a preventable crash,” he said.
Representing the NANS leadership, Comrade Lucky Omonefe, Immediate Past President of the Association, commended the FRSC for its openness and dialogue.
“We came with anger, but we are leaving with hope.
Dialogue is the tool we must embrace to stop recklessness and reduce carnage on our roads,” he noted.
FRSC’s Measures Against Truck Crashes
The Corps Marshal outlined ongoing interventions, including:
Partnerships with major fleet operators such as Dangote Group and BUA Group, with thousands of truck drivers already trained in defensive driving and fatigue management.
Rigorous safety checks on over 2,700 trucks through its annual fleet certification exercise.
Deployment of technology to monitor driver behavior, and promotion of speed limiters and higher safety standards for heavy-duty vehicles.
Nationwide town hall meetings with students, transport unions, fleet owners, and community leaders to drive behavioural change.
He stressed that the engagement with NANS is not a one-off, but the start of a sustained partnership to promote safety through empathy, enforcement, and education.
The Corps Marshal appealed to students and the public for patience, assuring that decisive measures are underway.
“No protest is more powerful than a united commitment to save lives,” he said.