Nigerian Road Accidents: “New Norms” Adoption And Docility Of FRSC Officers

Nigerian Road Accidents: “New Norms” Adoption And Docility Of FRSC Officers

By Prof MK Othman

A few years ago, on my way to Sokoto, I met a stern-looking Road Safety Officer at the rail crossing of Tsafe town, Zamfara State, who demanded my vehicle’s particulars, which I delivered promptly. After examining the particulars, he demanded a triangle and a fire extinguisher, which I provided. When he found nothing amiss, he tried to operate the Extinguisher and, in the process, broke the pressure head. We looked at each other, and he profusely apologized. While the scene was being played, an overloaded commercial car passed by, its passengers and goods crammed in at three times the vehicle’s capacity. The Road Safety officer pretended not to see the vehicle by looking the other way. I collected my particulars and drove away without uttering a word. Another time, a Road Safety officer stopped me in Funtua, Katsina State, and demanded to see my driving license, which I handed over pronto. The tendency of road traffic officers to harass law-abiding motorists is common on almost every road across the country, especially for those of us driving private vehicles with required particulars and functional equipment. At one time, on my way to Kano from Zaria, a road safety officer, after checking my particulars and finding nothing missing, bent down to examine the manufacturing and expiration dates on my tires, all in an effort to assign fault and extort me. I cannot afford to travel without fire extinguishers, spare, unexpired tires, and wearing seat belts, as I have witnessed how these common tools have saved lives and prevented injuries. He was certainly disappointed. However, most commercial vehicle drivers, tricycle drivers, and motorcycle riders commit all kinds of traffic offenses and get away with it, while innocent, humble-looking private vehicle drivers like me and others are harassed without committing any offense. Well, as Dan Bello would say, “This is Nigeria.” The most disturbing thing is the adoption of the “new norms” in road transportation by commercial vehicle drivers and motorcyclists, who are mostly responsible for massive road accidents with dire consequences. What are the “new norms”? Before answering the question, what is the level of road accidents in Nigeria?

Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest rate of road accidents in the world. In 2025, the Nigerian Red Cross Society on March 11 and the World Health Organization on September 23 reported an estimated 21.4 road traffic deaths per 100,000 population in Nigeria, placing the country significantly higher than in developed regions but near the African regional average of 19.5 and the global average of 17.5. However, the FRSC reported 10,446 crashes and 5,289 deaths nationwide for January–December 2025, meaning that, on average, Nigeria recorded approximately 29 road crashes and 14.5 deaths every day in 2025. Compared with 2024, the FRSC recorded 9,570 crashes and 5,421 deaths, indicating that the number of crashes increased, even though recorded fatalities fell slightly from the 2024 level.

According to a study conducted by Wasiu et al., there was an average of 1042 deaths per 100,000 vehicles and a loss of ₦80 billion in goods annually due to road accidents in Nigeria (www.researchgate.net/publication/324088254_ROAD). For a long time, Road traffic accidents have been very devastating, with a high fatality rate. For instance, in 1984, Nigeria was reported to have the highest rate of road traffic deaths in Africa, with the chances of a vehicle killing someone in Nigeria being 47 times higher than in Britain (Bolade and Ogunsanya, 1990). Data on the recent fatality rate in Nigeria due to road traffic accidents are mostly underreported or difficult to access. Still, the accident rate is likely to increase due to growth in the vehicle population, the number of road users, overloading, dilapidated roads, and the adoption of the so-called “new norms”.

One of the “new norms” includes placing passengers in the vehicle booths meant for loading goods. It is common to see one to three people crammed into a booth in a commercial vehicle, along with goods. I have observed several times on many roads commercial cars with a maximum capacity of four passengers and a driver, carrying three in the front, four in the back seat, and four passengers in the booth, called the “big parlor”. Recently, I saw a Golf three vehicle carrying a bull and two passengers on its rooftop, with eleven people inside, the driver zooming up, normally passing and waving at the traffic officers. What an irony!

These vehicles drive above the speed limit, and if they are involved in an accident, the consequences may be tragic. One may wonder why some passengers accept being placed in a big parlor; the reason is the economic benefit of paying a lower fare than passengers seated. These drivers get away with this practice despite the presence of road marshals; that is why it has become the new norm. Why are the road marshals and officers docile? Are their palms being greased, or are they being overwhelmed by multiple offenders, leading them to overlook the new normal? The Corps Marshal must act decisively to reduce the tragic loss of life and property caused by road accidents.

Another “new norm” involves the operation of commercial motorcycles in rural and urban areas. The activities of these commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as “Okada” or “Achaba,” have caused several road traffic accidents due to the dangerous and reckless manner in which they ride their motorcycles on our roads. They don’t seem to be aware of the road traffic rules and regulations governing road users. They mostly ride at high speeds to convey passengers as quickly as possible and increase their daily incomes. Two major “new norms” adopted by this category of road users are overloading and removing the mirrors from their motorcycles. I have repeatedly seen motorcycles carrying 4 to 5 people or 3 100-kg bags of grain. A motorcycle carrying three people with a load while riding at high speed has been a common sight in most urban areas and satellite towns of major cities such as Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and others. Ideally, a motorcycle is designed to carry the rider and one passenger (two people) with a light load moving at medium speed.

In addition to overloading, over 90% of the motorcycles on our roads have their mirrors removed by their riders. The mirrors are mounted on the left and right sides of the motorcycle to help the rider watch the rear for oncoming vehicles and avoid being overtaken. The reason for removing these mirrors is to reduce motorcycle speed, as air resistance increases with the added width caused by the attachment of the right and left mirrors. Thus, several motorcycle accidents are caused by riders’ inability to pay attention to their rear and to avoid oncoming vehicles. Yet another “new norm” is the refusal of motorcycle riders and passengers to wear crash helmets, which prevent major head injuries in the event of an accident.

Again, the tricycle, with a normal capacity of three passengers and a driver, is forced to carry between six and ten passengers. At one point, I counted about 15 people, some inside and others wrapped around the tricycle, called “kekenape”; it was a disgusting sight, inviting an accident. More often than not, the merciful God allows such scenes to pass scot-free. What a benevolent God!

Some of the major responsibilities of the FRSC are preventing or minimizing accidents on highways; clearing obstructions on any part of the highways; and educating drivers, motorists, and other members of the public generally on the proper use of the highways. So, why is the FRSC ignoring these traffic offenders? Why are the road marshals looking the other way?

While it is commendable to see the road marshals’ responsiveness and promptness when an accident occurs, they are quick to evacuate accident victims. However, they must remain vigilant to prevent accidents. They must insist that passengers not be carried in the big parlor, that all motorcycles have mirrors, and that no more than two people ride on one motorcycle. These measures will certainly help save the lives of our compatriots. Over to you, Alhaji Shehu Mohammed, Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Nigeria. A rigorous campaign must be mounted to educate motorcyclists on the importance of mirrors, sanction offenders, and build capacity for all categories of road users. Can we have traffic offense mobile courts nationwide? The National Assembly and the National Assembly should act in this direction. May God give you and road marshals the wisdom to do the needful. Amen.

Nigerian Road Accidents: “New Norms” Adoption And Docility Of FRSC Officers