Follow Us on Google
The Chief Executive Officer, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jubrin Baba Ndace, has explained why Nigerian roads are bad and impassable, attributing the problem to traffic violations by commercial drivers, especially the menace of overloading.
Ndace, who spoke yesterday in Abuja at a summit on national dialogue and the unveiling of the National Movement for Safe Loading and Safe Roads, as a guest speaker, tasked drivers with adhering to traffic rules to curtail accidents.
According to him, the dialogue provided an opportunity for Nigerians to move from conversation to collective action to address road crashes.
He added that the proposed Abuja Declaration 2026 should serve as more than just a document, but should become a national commitment to compliance, accountability and sustained action.
“As communicators, we must also recognise the power of public education in changing behaviour. A well-designed and consistently communicated message can save lives.
“This is an area where institutions such as the FRSC and Voice of Nigeria can continue to play complementary roles in promoting responsible behaviour and communicating the importance of road safety to Nigerians and the international community.
“I commend the Corps Marshal, the management of the FRSC and all partners for convening this important dialogue. I urge all stakeholders to support the National Movement and ensure that today’s commitments translate into measurable action on our roads.
“Together, we can end dangerous overloading, promote responsible and courteous transportation, change our attitudes towards road safety and accident victims, and, most importantly, save lives,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Federal Road Safety Corps Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, declared war on vehicle overloading, stating that both the drivers and owners of the goods would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The Corps explained that the measure was to tame road crashes and avoidable deaths.
Mohammed emphasised the need for drivers to adhere to safety measures when on the road.
Shehu said: “Overloading and other unsafe loading practices are preventable risks that must be addressed before vehicles enter our highways.
“Vehicle overloading is not simply a traffic violation. It is a road safety, infrastructure, logistics and economic development issue. Excessive loads compromise braking, steering and vehicle stability, accelerate vehicle deterioration, increase crash risks and contribute to the premature deterioration of our roads.
“We must also confront the related challenge of mixed and improper loading. The danger is not only the weight of a load, but what is carried, how it is combined, positioned and secured.
“The inappropriate combination of passengers and cargo, incompatible or dangerous materials, as well as poorly secured or unevenly distributed loads, creates serious risks to drivers, passengers and other road users.
“This challenge is particularly important in the haulage and logistics sector, where the pressure to maximise every journey can encourage unsafe practices. We must make it clear that no reduction in transportation cost or commercial benefit is worth the loss of human life.”
He added that the Federal Road Safety Corps would continue to strengthen enforcement, public education, stakeholder engagement, intelligence-led operations and the use of technology and data to improve compliance. “Our objective is to move from reactive enforcement to preventive road safety and coordinated national action.”
“This is why the National Movement for Safe Loading and Safe Roads is so important. It must not become an FRSC movement alone.
“It must be a national movement involving government, industry, transport operators, drivers, regulators, professional bodies, civil society, development partners and the media,” he added.
