As the festive season approaches, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has sent a strong emotional message to motorists nationwide — the road doesn’t forgive distraction.
Launching its 2025 Ember Months Campaign in Lagos, the Corps urged Nigerians to take responsibility for their safety and curb the rising cases of distracted driving, which often turn moments of joy into seasons of mourning.
At the Public Enlightenment and Sensitization Town Hall Meeting held in Ogba, Lagos, FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, said the campaign’s theme, “Take Responsibility for Your Safety, Stop Distracted Driving,” was chosen to remind motorists that crashes are not acts of fate but results of poor human judgment.
He revealed that more than 15 percent of road crashes recorded in Lagos in 2024 were caused by distractions — particularly mobile phone use while driving.
Hamzat stressed that lives can be saved if drivers make conscious decisions to stay focused.
“A single glance at your phone, a moment of divided attention, could cost lives,” he said, urging Nigerians to resist pressure and impatience during the festive rush.
Representing the Zonal Commanding Officer for Lagos and Ogun States, Assistant Corps Marshal Oluwakemi Oladayo, Corps Commander Anthony Daudu cautioned against drinking and driving, especially among commercial motorists.
He reminded drivers that “celebrations should not become reasons for grief,” while urging passengers to hold drivers accountable for unsafe behavior.
Guinness Nigeria PLC’s Corporate Relations Director, Rotimi Odusola, reaffirmed the company’s partnership with the FRSC in spreading awareness about the dangers of mixing alcohol with driving.
Similarly, NDLEA Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Titiloye Ogunluyi, warned drivers against drug use, emphasizing that “every passenger’s life depends on the driver’s alertness.”
According to FRSC statistics, between December 15, 2024, and January 15, 2025, 432 lives were lost and over 2,000 people injured in 533 reported crashes nationwide.
As the year winds down, the Corps appeals to all Nigerians to remember one truth — the road may give second chances to none, but focus and discipline can save every life.
Reporting by Victor Okiche