The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has released a grim set of road accident statistics, revealing that a staggering 3,915 persons were killed and 24,674 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in road traffic crashes across Nigeria between January and September 2025.
The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, disclosed the alarming figures on Thursday in Port Harcourt during the flag-off of the National Town Hall Meeting and the annual Ember Months Road Safety Campaign.
The data, spanning the first nine months of the year, showed that a total of 7,715 road traffic crashes occurred nationwide. Critically, the Corps Marshal noted that the figures represent a worrying trend of increased road fatalities compared to the previous year.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed: “Crash statistics recorded between January and September 2025 nationwide showed that a total of 7,715 road traffic crashes occurred… Also, 3,915 persons were killed in 2025 as against 3,811 in 2024, indicating an increase of 11.55 per cent.”
This substantial rise in casualties underscores the persistent challenge of ensuring road safety, particularly as the nation heads into the “Ember Months” (September to December), which traditionally record the highest number of accidents due to increased travel and festivities.
The 2025 campaign, themed “Take Responsibility for Your Safety; Stop Distracted Driving,” places the onus squarely on drivers, with the FRSC identifying driver error, including speeding, overloading, and the use of phones while driving, as the leading causes of the crashes.
To combat the surge in accidents, the FRSC announced plans to intensify nationwide advocacy, deploy additional personnel and Special Marshals to high-risk corridors, and collaborate closely with transport unions to enforce safety standards and proper vehicle maintenance.
