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Concern as FRSC data shows spike in fatal road crashes

Published

7 months ago

July 11, 2025

Concern as FRSC data shows spike in fatal road crashes

The Federal Road Safety Corps is unarguably under fire as Nigeria has continued to witness a troubling rise in fatalities from road traffic crashes this year.

The first quarter of the year was marked by several tragic incidents.

Nigerians wake up daily to disturbing reports of containers tragically dropping from trucks on passenger buses, cars and bystanders on the roadside; fuel tanker accidents crushing innocent people to death or igniting fire that claim scores of lives, consuming vehicles, buildings and other goods.

Between January and March 2025 (Q1), the FRSC recorded 2,650 crashes, resulting in 1,593 deaths and 9,298 injuries.

Compared to the same period in 2024, the number of fatalities rose by a staggering 8.3%, signalling an increase in the severity of these accidents. Injuries also jumped by 7.4% within the same period.

Among the most deadly corridors was the Jos–Lafia–Makurdi route, where 1,539 lives were lost in the first three months of the year—a chilling reflection of the high-risk nature of certain highways.

A recall of few examples shows on January 11 (Plateau State), a bus crash left 19 dead and 11 injured; January 22 (Ilorin, Kwara), a trailer-truck collision claimed 18 lives; February 1 (Ore–Lagos Road, Ondo), two buses collided and got burnt, killing 30; and on February 14 (Kano), a collision between a trailer and a goods vehicle killed 23, injuring 48.

While full data for April to June (Q2) has yet to be released by the FRSC, early signs suggest no improvement.

A few examples will suffice: On April 19, Ife–Ilesa Road, Osun State, a collision between a trailer and a Toyota Hilux killed five people, including a child.

On May 5, Abuja–Lokoja highway (Gada‑Biyu), a Peugeot bus tyre burst, plunging into a ditch and killing one person and six injured.

On June 1, Kano‑Zaria Expressway (Chiromawa Bridge), a bus veered off the bridge, 22 athletes were killed.

On June 7, Kyaramma, Jigawa State, a head-on collision between two Golf cars resulted in the death of nine, several others injured.

Five people died and several others were injured in an accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Soka area) involving trucks, cars and taxis.

In July, within just 48 hours between July 5 and 6, a total of 39 lives were lost in three separate crashes in Kano, Lagos and Ogun states.

On Zaria–Kano highway, 21 people were killed when a Toyota Hummer bus driving against traffic collided head-on with a trailer.

In Ogun State, 10 lives were lost on the Ijebu Ode–Obada Expressway due to wrong overtaking.

In Lagos, eight people died in a crash on the Mile 2–Badagry Expressway, caused by overspeeding.

All three crashes were linked to human error: wrong-way driving, reckless overtaking, and speeding.

These repeated patterns are some of the issues the FRSC was set up to address.

Before now, there were daily patrols on the highways by the FRSC officials (road marshals), motorists overspeeding or suspected to likely cause accidents would be flagged down, delayed or stopped outright especially if found to be drunk.

Poor road infrastructure and insecurity are other causes of accidents on the highways.

Mr Patrick Adenusi, technical director, Safety Beyond Borders, a road safety non governmental organisation, in a telephone chat on Wednesday, identified the major causes of accidents to include overloading by tanker drivers, use of alcohol and other dangerous drugs, and non-adherence to stipulated loading standard by oil marketing companies.

According to him, the poor condition of the highways, coupled with lack of road signages and fatigue suffered by drivers as a result of long driving time are also responsible for most of the accidents.

Many highways remain in a state of disrepair, forcing drivers into dangerous detours or risky maneuvers to make up for lost time caused by potholes or bandit-infested routes.

As Nigerians await the FRSC to release the second quarter statistics on road crashes by late July or early August, safety advocates are already warning of a potential surge in fatalities, especially during the rainy season when roads deteriorate further and visibility worsens.

Experts have thus called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations; community-level awareness campaigns on safe driving; immediate repair of damaged roads; mandatory refresher training for commercial drivers, among other measures.

As deaths mount on Nigeria’s roads, the message is clear: this is no longer just a traffic issue—it’s a national emergency. With thousands already dead or injured in the first half of 2025, urgent, coordinated action is needed to reverse the tide before more lives are needlessly lost.

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Seven Killed in Horrific Crash at Ota Toll Gate

Published

10 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

File photo

Seven Killed in Horrific Crash at Ota Toll Gate

– Brake Failure Suspected as Governor Orders Immediate Probe

Tragedy struck on Tuesday morning as seven persons lost their lives and two others sustained injuries in a multiple-vehicle crash at the busy Ota Toll Gate along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway.

The fatal collision, which occurred during peak traffic hours, reportedly involved a fully loaded trailer suspected to have suffered brake failure before ramming into smaller vehicles, including a commercial tricycle and a mini-bus. Eyewitness accounts described scenes of panic as the out-of-control truck ploughed into vehicles waiting near the toll gate.

Emergency responders from the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police swiftly arrived at the scene to rescue victims and clear the wreckage.

The injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at a state mortuary.

“The truck was speeding and suddenly lost control. People were shouting and running for safety,” an eyewitness told reporters at the scene.

Seven Killed in Horrific Crash at Ota Toll Gate

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Lagos Woman Shares Ordeal After Alleged Rape, Sparks Nationwide Outcry

Published

11 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

TikToker and aesthetic vendor, Mirabel

Lagos Woman Shares Ordeal After Alleged Rape, Sparks Nationwide Outcry

A young woman identified as Mirabel has shared a harrowing account of a near-death experience following an alleged rape attack in her apartment in Lagos, triggering widespread outrage and calls for justice.

In a video posted on TikTok under the handle @mirab351, Mirabel said the incident occurred on Sunday morning after she opened her door, believing it was a neighbour. According to her account, she was overpowered and lost consciousness during the attack.

She later said she regained awareness to find an intruder assaulting her. The assailant allegedly left her injured before fleeing. Mirabel explained that she initially thought the bleeding she noticed afterward was menstrual, until she received disturbing messages from a man she identified as the suspect.

Lagos Woman Shares Ordeal After Alleged Rape, Sparks Nationwide Outcry

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BREAKING: Drama in NASS as Reps Clash Over Backup Manual Result Collation

Published

14 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

Speaker, House of Reps, Tajudeen Abbas

BREAKING: Drama in NASS as Reps Clash Over Backup Manual Result Collation

Abuja — Tension erupted at the National Assembly on Tuesday as opposition lawmakers staged a dramatic walkout in protest against the approval of manual collation of election results as a backup to electronic transmission.

The controversy unfolded during plenary when a motion seeking to adopt manual collation as a contingency measure in the event of technical failure of electronic transmission systems was presented for consideration. While the majority lawmakers supported the proposal, opposition members strongly objected, arguing that the move could undermine electoral transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

Heated Debate on the Floor

The debate quickly grew intense as several opposition representatives warned that reintroducing manual collation, even as a backup, could open the door to manipulation and irregularities.

One opposition lawmaker described the decision as “a dangerous step backward,” insisting that Nigeria’s electoral reforms were designed to eliminate the flaws associated with manual processes. According to them, reliance on manual collation in previous elections had been a major source of disputes and litigation.

However, lawmakers from the majority caucus defended the proposal, stating that the backup option was necessary to safeguard the integrity of elections in situations where electronic systems malfunction due to network failure, cyber threats, or logistical challenges.

A ranking member of the majority party argued that “no responsible legislature should ignore the possibility of technical glitches,” stressing that manual collation would only serve as a last resort and not replace electronic transmission.

Dramatic Walkout

Following the Speaker’s ruling allowing the motion to proceed to approval by voice vote, opposition lawmakers rose from their seats in protest. Chanting “No to manual manipulation” and “Protect our votes,” they exited the chamber en masse.

The walkout temporarily disrupted proceedings, drawing reactions from observers and legislative aides present in the gallery.

Despite the protest, the remaining lawmakers proceeded to adopt the motion, effectively approving manual collation as a backup mechanism pending further legislative fine-tuning and possible amendments to the electoral framework.

Implications for Electoral Reform

The development is expected to generate significant political debate across party lines and among civil society organizations. Advocacy groups have consistently pushed for full electronic transmission of results to minimize human interference and enhance credibility.

Political analysts say the decision could become a flashpoint ahead of future elections, especially given past controversies surrounding result collation.

As of press time, leaders of the opposition caucus were reportedly preparing a joint press briefing to outline their position and next steps, including the possibility of seeking judicial interpretation if the approval translates into legislative amendments.

Further updates will follow as the situation develops.