The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, has issued a stern warning against night travel, describing it as unsafe and highly dangerous. In a statement released by the Corps Public Education Officer, Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide, in Abuja on Thursday, Mohammed urged fleet operators, commercial drivers, and private vehicle owners to avoid night trips due to the increased risks involved.
Mohammed cited the rising number of road traffic crashes (RTCs) at night, which often result in higher fatalities. He pointed out several factors contributing to the dangers of night travel, including reduced visibility, driver fatigue, dozing off at the wheel, reckless driving, overloading, and excessive speeding.
“Night trips pose significant threats to road users due to reduced visibility, driver fatigue, and increased chances of accidents. They are not only unsafe but utterly dangerous,” Mohammed emphasized. He added that nighttime crashes are generally more fatal than those occurring during the day.
The warning follows several tragic incidents, including a fatal crash in Lapai, Niger State, on September 8, where four vehicles were caught in a fire, killing 37 people. Mohammed attributed the crash to speed violations and driver fatigue, and expressed the Corps’ ongoing grief over the tragedy. Another night-time crash on September 12 claimed 18 lives.
He also criticized fleet operators and private vehicle owners for prioritizing economic gains over safety, citing that many overload vehicles with passengers, animals, and goods at night to avoid arrest by FRSC patrol teams.
While the FRSC cannot legally ban night trips, Mohammed strongly advised the public to reassess their travel choices and opt for daytime journeys. He emphasized the difficulty of providing prompt assistance during night crashes that occur outside the FRSC’s coverage areas.
The Corps Marshal concluded by urging passengers to avoid unnecessary night travel and encouraging cooperation with the FRSC’s efforts to ensure safer roads across Nigeria. “These deaths are preventable and unacceptable. We must take caution to avoid more unnecessary tragedies,” he stressed.
