Nigeria leads Africa’s road safety drive with new continental secretariat

Nigeria has solidified its position as a leader in African road safety, marking a significant diplomatic and institutional achievement.

This is in view of the inauguration of the
New Executive Secretariat of the African Association of Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA) and the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO).

Hosted by the Federal Road Safety
Corps (FRSC) in Abuja on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, this landmark event positions Nigeria at the forefront of continental road safety governance and mobility coordination.

The inauguration, led by FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, attracted a distinguished gathering of diplomatic community members, international development partners, representatives from the African Union, and high-level delegates from across Africa.

Observers have hailed the event as a pivotal moment, underscoring Nigeria’s expanding influence in regional integration, transport safety leadership, and institutional diplomacy.

Hon. Pam Bot-Mang, representing Plateau State, commissioned the Secretariat on behalf of Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission.
She lauded the initiative as a bold continental step towards fostering safer roads, strengthening institutions, and
harmonizing transport governance throughout Africa.

In her keynote address, Hon. Omidiran emphasized that road safety is a shared African challenge demanding coordinated action, strategic partnerships, and innovative solutions.

She hailed the FRSC for successfully securing Nigeria as the host nation for the Secretariat, recognizing it as a testament to the country’s leadership in advancing sustainable mobility and road safety administration across the continent.
The event brought together key continental stakeholders, including Nashow Kondiwa, President of AARSLA; Ms. Marisela Ponche de Leon Valdes, Representative of the SSATP/World Bank; Honourable Zunu Duntann of Liberia.

Also, Mr. Ariel Sacramento of Benin Republic; Mr. Tou Siaka of Côte d’Ivoire; and Mr. Sheriff Abou of Sierra Leone, among other foreign delegates and technical partners dedicated to reducing road traffic fatalities in Africa.

Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed described the inauguration as more than just the commissioning of a physical structure.

He articulated it as “a bold affirmation of Africa’s collective resolve to safeguard lives, strengthen institutions, and advance sustainable mobility across the continent.”
He further noted that the establishment of the Secretariat aligns seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s foreign policy direction, particularly the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes regional cooperation, institutional strengthening, safety, and an improved quality of life for citizens.

The Corps Marshal highlighted the Secretariat’s role as a strategic platform for exchange, learning, advocacy, technical cooperation, and capacity building among African nations.

The newly inaugurated Secretariat is poised to become a continental hub for critical functions such as research, policy harmonization, innovation, training, data management, and strategic collaboration among road safety agencies in Africa.

Its efforts will also contribute significantly to advancing the objectives of the African Union Agenda 2063 and
global road safety targets.