61% drop as FRSC’s Safe-to-Load Program halves Nigeria’s road fatalities

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced a monumental achievement in its ongoing efforts to enhance road safety, reporting a dramatic 61.29%
reduction in tanker and trailer-related fatalities and a 15.53% decline in crash severity index for 2025.

These unprecedented safety gains are directly attributed to the successful
implementation of the Safe-to-Load Programme, spearheaded by Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed.

Speaking at the flag-off of the 2026 Technical Training for FRSC Desk Officers in Lagos, Corps Marshal Mohammed hailed the figures as a resounding validation of the Corps’ data-driven enforcement model and robust inter-agency collaboration.

The Safe-to-Load Programme, initiated in 2015 in alignment with the global safety protocols for dangerous goods
transportation, fundamentally reshaped compliance standards within the petroleum haulage sector.

Since its inception, the program has seen a remarkable surge in compliance. The
percentage of drivers meeting Class G Driver Licence requirements has soared from a modest 58.2% to an impressive 99.4%.

Furthermore, the installation of critical safety components, such as API- standard leak-proof systems, has reached 98.3% across the fleet.
Despite this measurable progress, Corps Marshal Mohammed emphasized the FRSC’s unwavering commitment to achieving zero fatalities.

He issued a stern warning that any
tanker failing to meet the stringent Safe-to-Load requirements would be denied loading without exception.

Corps Marshal also stated that all tanker -related crashes would trigger
comprehensive investigations spanning the entire value chain, from depot operators to vehicle owners.
The Corps Marshal further decried persistent violations, including tampering with speedlimiting devices and pervasive poor maintenance culture, labeling them as unacceptable threats to national safety.

Reinforcing the Corps’ renewed enforcement posture, he declared, “the era of impunity on Nigerian roads is over,” underscoring that the Safe-toLoad Programme has evolved beyond a mere regulatory tool to become a national safety imperative.

He urged operators, drivers, and all stakeholders to embrace total compliance, highlighting that every averted crash signifies lives saved, properties protected, and national resources preserved.

Looking ahead, the FRSC remains dedicated to deepening technology- driven monitoring systems, strengthens capacity building for its personnel, and sustaining strategic partnerships with key industry stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), among others.