The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) of Nigeria is struggling to fulfill its mandate of promoting road safety and reducing accidents. Despite its crucial role, the organization faces several challenges, including.
Corruption and Extortion the FRSC officials are often accused of extorting motorists, particularly on state roads and inner city areas, rather than focusing on their core duties.
Lack of Enforcement on vehicles with faulty tyres, expired licenses, and other safety issues are frequently allowed to operate without sanctions, undermining road safety efforts.
Inadequate Response to Accidents by FRSC officials which are often absent or slow to respond to accidents, exacerbating the situation and leaving victims stranded, a vivid example was on April 5th 2025 when motorists on Lagos-Ibadan expressway were stranded for hours due to accident at MFM area.
In response to these concerns, the FRSC has introduced measures such as Anti-Corruption Unit, established to investigate and prevent corrupt practices within the agency these measurements were with little on no positive results.
The Public Complaints Committee which allows citizens to report grievances and provide feedback on FRSC operations is not effective, the 122 toll-free line never functioned.
To improve the FRSC’s effectiveness, the government consider the following steps, overhauling by replacing current leadership with well-trained, result-oriented individuals.
Increase Transparency and Accountability by Implementing robust monitoring and evaluation systems to prevent corruption.
Enhancing Public Engagement by fostering better relationships with the public through education and outreach programs.
The FRSC’s vision is to eradicate road traffic crashes and create a safe motoring environment in Nigeria. To achieve this, the agency must prioritize its core functions, including preventing accidents, enforcing traffic laws, providing emergency services, and educating motorists.
By Bola Babarinde
