FRSC gets continental mandate to lead road safety efforts in Africa

By Ezurike Ugochukwu 

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has been designated as the Permanent Secretariat of the Association of African Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA), a significant recognition of Nigeria’s leadership in road safety advocacy.

The recognition was announced at the 1st General Assembly of the Continental Road Safety body in Lusaka, Zambia, from 26 – 27 June 2025, marking a new era of collaboration and coordination among African nations in reducing road traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria has been officially designated as the Permanent Secretariat of all Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA) across the African continent. This great recognition was conferred at the ongoing 1st General Assembly of the Continental Road Safety body holding in Lusaka, Zambia from 26 – 27 June 2025.

Indeed, this historic feat marks a new era of collaboration and coordination among African nations in the quest to reduce road traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities across the continent.

As the Permanent Secretariat, FRSC will serve as the central coordinating body for all road safety lead agencies in Africa, facilitating the sharing of best practices, harmonization of road safety strategies, and mobilization of resources towards the implementation of the African Road Safety Action Plan.

According to a statement, the Corps Marshal FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in Nigeria’s road safety institution and reaffirmed FRSC’s continuous commitment to championing road safety initiatives that will save lives and improve transportation systems across Africa.

While pledging his support for the Association, Corps Marshal maintained that the digitalization and robust sensitisation policy thrust of his administration will be deployed in assisting the Secretariat and a boost for the Corps to rejig its commitment in service delivery in Africa. He expressed appreciation to the President and Commander in Chief, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for his administration’s continued support, without which the Corps wouldn’t have achieved this feat.

He noted amongst many others that; “This is not just a recognition of Nigeria’s efforts, but a call to greater responsibility. We will work with every African country to strengthen policies, enhance capacity building, and deploy innovative solutions for safer roads.”

The idea to have a regional entity was one of the resolutions of the General Assembly of the Sub Sahara Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) that was held in Cotonou the Republic of Benin in March, 2025.

SSATP is a World Bank Programme for over 30 years in Africa with a membership of 43 countries. It partners with African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) as the leading Transport Policy development forum for the Continent, with a strong convening and networking power capable of sensitizing and mobilizing policy makers at the highest levels of government.

This milestone aligns with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, which seeks to halve road traffic deaths and injuries worldwide. It underscores Nigeria’s leadership role in continental road safety advocacy and positions FRSC as a beacon for road traffic management excellence in Africa.

FRSC invites all stakeholders—including governments, development partners, civil society, and the private sector—to collaborate in achieving a safer, more sustainable road transport environment across Africa.

You would recall that earlier in the year, the Corps won the award of the best road safety agency in Africa at the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award held in Ezulwini the Kingdom of Eswatini. These and many more milestones recorded on the continental level will not only attract direct foreign investment, but also project the nation as one of the best safety compliant country in the world.

Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in FRSC and reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to championing road safety initiatives across Africa.