By Nkechi Eze
In a landmark recognition of its leadership and commitment to road safety, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) of Nigeria has been officially appointed as the Permanent Secretariat of all Road Safety Lead Agencies across the African continent. The historic announcement was made during the inaugural General Assembly of the Association of African Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA), currently taking place in Lusaka, Zambia from 26–27 June 2025.
According to a statement signed by Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, FRSC’s Public Education Officer, the appointment heralds a new era of continental collaboration aimed at significantly reducing road traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities across Africa. With this designation, the FRSC becomes the central coordinating authority responsible for driving continental road safety efforts, sharing best practices, aligning strategic approaches, and mobilizing resources for the implementation of the African Road Safety Action Plan.
Speaking on the recognition, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, expressed deep appreciation for the confidence reposed in Nigeria’s road safety institution. He described the appointment not just as a testament to Nigeria’s achievements in the area of transportation safety but as a call to a greater responsibility that will benefit all African nations.
“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 Corps Marshal declared.
He pledged to deploy the digitalization and robust sensitization strategies of his administration in the service of the Secretariat, with a view to improving service delivery not only in Nigeria but across Africa. According to him, Nigeria’s strategic policy direction in recent years has positioned the country as a continental leader in the push for safer and smarter road use.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed also used the opportunity to extend his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his administration’s unwavering support to the FRSC, noting that such backing has been instrumental in the Corps attaining such international recognition. He said the President’s consistent prioritization of road infrastructure and safety has enabled the FRSC to meet its mandate while aligning with global best practices.
“This appointment is a strong endorsement of our work and a major step forward for Nigeria’s leadership in Africa. With the support of our government and our partners, we are poised to usher in a new chapter of road safety coordination and improvement across the continent,” he added.
The formation of AARSLA and the idea of establishing a central coordinating body were among the key resolutions adopted at the General Assembly of the Sub-Sahara Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) held in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, in March 2025. SSATP is a long-standing World Bank-supported initiative, active for over 30 years across 43 African countries. The program, in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), functions as a premier transport policy development forum with a strong track record of engaging high-level government stakeholders and driving continental policy reforms.
The appointment of the FRSC as AARSLA’s Permanent Secretariat is also closely aligned with global efforts under the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, which seeks to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% within the decade. It not only highlights Nigeria’s growing global stature in road safety advocacy but also positions the FRSC as a beacon of excellence in traffic management and policy innovation across Africa.
The FRSC has called on governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders across Africa to rally behind the Secretariat’s new mandate and work collaboratively towards building safer, smarter, and more sustainable transport systems across the continent.
It would be recalled that earlier in 2025, the FRSC had clinched the award of “Best Road Safety Agency in Africa” at the prestigious Kofi Annan Road Safety Award ceremony held in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Eswatini. That honour, along with this most recent appointment, cements FRSC’s reputation as one of the continent’s most impactful and forward-thinking road safety institutions.
As Africa continues to face rising challenges in road transportation due to urbanization, population growth, and infrastructural pressures, the FRSC’s appointment as the nerve centre of continental coordination is seen as a timely intervention. Experts have described it as a strategic opportunity for African countries to unify their responses to traffic-related fatalities and accelerate the implementation of science-based, people-centered policies.
This milestone is expected not only to attract increased foreign investment into Nigeria’s transport and safety infrastructure but also to enhance the country’s profile globally as a safety-compliant and progressive nation.
