Due to the increasing dangers and fatalities from road accidents occurring at night, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has issued a strong warning to fleet operators, commercial drivers, and private vehicle owners to avoid night journeys. He highlighted that night trips are often marred by poor visibility, fatigue, and excessive speeding, making them not only unsafe but highly dangerous.
The warning was issued in a statement by FRSC Public Education Officer, Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Thursday in Abuja. The Corps Marshal’s concern follows reports of recent fatal night-time crashes, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.
Explaining the reasons behind his warning, Mohammed cited an accident that occurred on September 8, 2024, in Lapai, Niger State. In this incident, four vehicles were involved in a deadly inferno, claiming 37 lives on the spot. According to him, the crash was caused by a mix of speed violations and driver fatigue.
Similarly, the Corps Marshal noted that accidents at night tend to be more severe than those during the day. Just days after the Lapai crash, another fatal accident took place on September 12, 2024, resulting in 18 more deaths—again, due to night travel.
Mohammed revealed that intelligence reports indicate many fleet operators and private vehicle owners undertake night journeys for economic reasons. These operators often overload their vehicles with passengers, goods, and even animals to avoid being stopped by FRSC patrol teams during the day.
While acknowledging that the FRSC lacks the legal authority to ban night trips, Mohammed urged people to reconsider their travel plans and opt for daytime journeys. He emphasized that when accidents occur far from FRSC rescue points at night, accessing emergency assistance becomes significantly more challenging.
Listing the risks associated with night travel—poor visibility, driver fatigue, dangerous driving, speeding, and overloading—the Corps Marshal also advised passengers to postpone trips that could wait until the next day, rather than opting for night travel.
In conclusion, he stressed that the fatalities from these night-time crashes are avoidable, preventable, and unacceptable. He called on all road users to exercise caution and make safer travel decisions.
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