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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged motorists, passengers, and pedestrians to take personal responsibility for their safety and avoid actions that could lead to road crashes, especially during the ember months.
Ondo State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Dr. Samuel Ibitoye, made the appeal during 2025 Ember Months Road Safety Stakeholders’ Town-Hall Meeting held at Achievers University, Owo.
The meeting, organised by the FRSC in collaboration with the university, brought together key transport stakeholders, including representatives of security agencies, traditional institutions, and drivers’ unions.
Dr. Ibitoye lamented the high number of road traffic crashes (RTCs) recorded across the country in 2024, describing the deaths as unacceptable.
He said the rate of crashes, particularly during the ember months, had become worrisome and demanded collective action from all stakeholders.
“RTCs kill and claim more lives than other things. So, in Nigeria today, people are dying day by day on the road.
“And the deaths recorded on our road is not acceptable.
“So we are appealing to stakeholders to ensure they take responsibility of their safety because their lives are at stake when they enter the vehicle.
“Don’t allow others to dictate your safety, take ownership of your safety. Drivers should not be distracted by the passengers or by their own actions and inactions, either visually or manually.
“As passengers, don’t sleep or use earphones when you board a vehicle, participate in road safety so that the driver will not put a stop to your destiny.
“Advice the driver politely when the need comes up,” Ibitoye said.
The sector commander further cautioned drivers to avoid distractions and maintain full concentration while driving, stressing that the task of ensuring safety on the road must be shared by all.
“The driver has to concentrate on his driving so that the roads will be clear from unnecessary deaths and serious injuries,” he added.
Vice Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, Prof. Irinoye Omolola, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Aremu Oyesoji, commended the FRSC for its consistent efforts to make Nigerian roads safer.
“Without the road safety officials, the roads would have been a death trap.
“As a driver especially driver’s union, you take 70 per cent participation as road users, please join hands with the FRSC and Nigerians to make our roads safer,” he said.
Also speaking, the General Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Owo Branch, Mr. Wale Babalola, praised the FRSC for sustaining its enlightenment campaigns. He assured that members of the union would continue to obey traffic rules and drive responsibly during and after the ember months.
Babalola advised drivers to treat the ember months like any other period of the year and ensure they celebrate the Yuletide season peacefully.
Representatives of the Olowo of Owo, the NDLEA, NSCDC, students, and other groups were also in attendance at the event.