The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged Nigerians to stop attributing road crashes to evil spirits, insisting that most accidents are caused by human error.
Oyo State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mrs. Rosemary Alo, made this statement on Wednesday in Ibadan at the opening of a two-day seminar aimed at promoting safer driving in Nigeria.
The seminar, themed “Creating a Safe Motoring Environment in Nigeria: A Collective Responsibility of All Citizens,” was organised in collaboration with the Dr. Tunde Aladesanmi Road Safety Foundation.
“We must understand that crashes happen because of human actions such as speeding, drug use, and ignoring traffic rules not because of demons or evil spirits,” Alo said.
She emphasized that driving requires full concentration, and any violation of safety rules increases the risk of accidents. According to her, many crashes are a result of careless attitudes and disrespect for road regulations.
Alo called on all Nigerians to see road safety as a shared responsibility. “It’s not just the duty of traffic authorities. Everyone—government agencies, businesses, civil society groups, and individuals—must play a part,” she said.
To strengthen driver training, she revealed that the FRSC has put monitoring systems in place to assess driving schools across the country. This includes a special team to oversee registered training centres and ensure they comply with required standards. The Corps is also coordinating Computer-Based Tests to certify that instructors are properly qualified.
Dr. Ken Adegoke, President of the Dr. Tunde Aladesanmi Road Safety Foundation, said the organisation was founded in memory of Dr. Aladesanmi, who died in a road crash with other doctors in 2016. The foundation aims to reduce preventable deaths on Nigerian highways through collaboration with agencies like the FRSC.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Esho Giwa, Chairman of the Tricycle Division under the Park Management System (PMS), urged the FRSC to hold similar seminars regularly. He noted that the programme had improved participants’ knowledge of road signs, safe driving practices, and general traffic safety.