By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has intensified enforcement against the dangerous practice of mixed loading in Kaduna State, intercepting several articulated vehicles conveying more than 100 passengers alongside animals and goods during the ongoing Easter Special Patrol.
The operation was carried out by the Kaduna State Sector Command of the FRSC following directives from the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, who ordered a nationwide crackdown on the practice due to its grave danger to road users.
According to a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer, Deputy Corps Commander Osondu Ohaeri, the enforcement operation was led by the Kaduna Sector Commander, Corps Commander Tijani Iliyasu.
During the patrol, several articulated vehicles were intercepted along major road corridors while transporting a hazardous mix of human passengers, livestock and goods.
The Corps Marshal described mixed loading as a “ticking time bomb” on Nigerian highways, warning that the practice exposes occupants to extreme risks during road crashes.
He noted that in the event of an accident, passengers are often crushed by shifting cargo or injured by livestock being transported alongside them, drastically reducing their chances of survival.
Mohammed further explained that beyond the immediate danger to passengers, mixed loading also compromises vehicle stability, weakens braking control and significantly increases the likelihood of fatal road traffic crashes.
He emphasised that the ongoing enforcement drive demonstrates the FRSC’s zero-tolerance stance toward traffic violations that endanger public safety.
Operators and drivers across the country have therefore been warned to desist from mixed loading and other unsafe practices or face stiff sanctions, including arrest and prosecution.
The Corps Marshal also urged motorists and transport operators to adopt responsible driving habits, particularly during the Easter period when vehicular movement increases across the country.
The Federal Road Safety Corps reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property on Nigerian roads through sustained enforcement operations, intelligence-driven patrols and intensified public enlightenment campaigns.
The agency also called on road users and other stakeholders to support ongoing safety efforts by complying with traffic regulations, stressing that road safety remains a collective responsibility.
