The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has raised fresh concern over the growing number of road crashes in Abia State, warning that despite a slight drop in accidents and deaths compared to last year, the situation remains troubling — especially as the ember months approach.
Speaking during a Town Hall meeting for stakeholders to flag off the 2025 Ember Months Campaign, the Abia State Sector Commander, Ngozi Ezeonu, said the Corps’ top goal for the year is to achieve a 10% reduction in road traffic deaths and injuries through focused interventions.
Ezeonu said, “The numbers recorded so far are sobering and underscore the urgent need for sustained intervention and shared commitment. Every life lost is a community diminished, a family broken, a dream cut short. We must act together — and with urgency — to crash the crash in Abia State.”
She explained that the ember months are “a period traditionally marked by increased vehicular movement, heightened commercial activity, and, unfortunately, a spike in road crashes.”
Highlighting the campaign’s theme, “Road Safety is a Shared Responsibility: Drive to Arrive Alive,” Ezeonu stressed that road safety cannot be achieved by the FRSC alone. “The safety of our roads is a collective duty that requires the active participation of everyone here today,” she added.
The sector commander noted that data shows a downward trend in crashes and fatalities compared to 2024 — a sign that the FRSC’s ongoing awareness campaigns, enforcement drives, and collaborations with stakeholders are making a positive impact.
However, she urged government agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, transport unions, fleet operators, school owners, drivers, and mechanics to continue supporting the Corps’ efforts.
“In response to the challenges ahead, the FRSC Abia Command is adopting a multi-faceted strategy that combines enforcement, education, and stakeholder engagement,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, the Abia State Commissioner for Transport, Chimezie Ukaegbu, reminded road users that safety is a shared duty, while the Chairman of the occasion, Kingsley Nwach, noted that “safety, just like security, is everyone’s business.”
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Meanwhile, in a related development, the FRSC in Plateau State has appealed to hospitals not to reject road crash victims brought for emergency treatment.
The Sector Commander, Olajide Mogaji, made the call during the agency’s Customer Service Week event in Jos, saying some hospitals across the country have been known to turn victims away — a practice that violates the law.
“We are aware of complaints of some hospitals not accepting to treat crash victims when they are brought in. This is wrong. The government’s position is clear — treat them first before anything else,” Mogaji said, commending hospitals in Plateau for always attending to victims without hesitation.
The FRSC urged the public to remain cautious, drive responsibly, and remember that road safety is a collective responsibility — especially during the festive and high-traffic ember months.
