The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has recorded a significant 61.29 per cent reduction in tanker and trailer-related fatalities, alongside a 15.53 per cent decline in crash severity index in 2025, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s road safety efforts.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, attributed the achievement to the successful implementation of the Safe-to-Load Programme, a key initiative designed to enforce safety compliance in the petroleum haulage sector.
Speaking at the flag-off of the 2026 Technical Training for FRSC Desk Officers at petroleum depots and terminals in Lagos, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, described the development as a clear validation of the agency’s data-driven enforcement strategy and robust inter-agency collaboration.
He explained that the Safe-to-Load Programme, introduced in 2015 in line with global safety standards for the transportation of hazardous materials, has significantly improved compliance across the sector.
According to him, compliance with Class G Driver Licence requirements has risen sharply from 58.2 per cent at inception to 99.4 per cent, while the installation of critical safety features such as API-standard leak-proof systems has reached 98.3 per cent.
Despite the progress, the Corps Marshal maintained that the FRSC remained committed to achieving zero fatalities on Nigerian roads. He warned that any tanker failing to meet Safe-to-Load standards would be denied loading without exception.
Mohammed also announced that tanker-related crashes would henceforth be subjected to comprehensive investigations across the value chain, including depot operators and vehicle owners.
He condemned ongoing violations such as tampering with speed limiting devices and poor vehicle maintenance, describing them as serious threats to public safety.
“The era of impunity on Nigerian roads is over,” he declared, stressing that the Safe-to-Load Programme has evolved beyond a regulatory framework into a national safety imperative.
The Corps Marshal urged all stakeholders, including operators and drivers, to ensure full compliance, noting that every prevented crash translates into saved lives, protected property, and conserved national resources.
FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to expanding technology-driven monitoring systems, enhancing personnel capacity, and strengthening partnerships with key industry stakeholders such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), MEMAN, DAPPMAN, NARTO, NUPENG, and IPMAN.
