At least 21 people have lost their lives while 144 others sustained various injuries in road accidents recorded across Anambra State between January and October 2025, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps.
This was revealed on Monday by the Anambra State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Bridget Asekhauno, during a press briefing to launch the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment Campaign themed, “Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.”
Asekhauno disclosed that the fatalities were recorded from 57 different road crashes, with the majority linked to excessive speeding and distracted driving.
“In just 10 months, 21 lives have been lost and 144 people injured in 57 crashes across Anambra State,” she said. “This should serve as a wake-up call for all road users to take personal responsibility for their safety.”
As part of the campaign efforts, the FRSC announced plans for a motorcade rally and town hall meetings aimed at sensitising commercial drivers and other stakeholders on safe road practices during the high-traffic Ember months — a period historically known for increased road travel and accidents.
“We will be moving around major parks in the state to engage directly with drivers and commuters,” Asekhauno said. “There will also be a town hall where relevant agencies and stakeholders will be brought together to foster collaboration in promoting road safety.”
She added that FRSC officers continue to receive regular training and morning briefings to ensure optimal performance. “If you find an officer acting unprofessionally, it’s not due to a lack of training every organization has a few outliers,” she noted.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, the Sector Commander emphasised that the theme of this year’s campaign addresses the human factor as a leading cause of crashes.
“The 2024 Operation Zero statistics, which covered December 15, 2024 to January 15, 2025, recorded 432 deaths and 2,070 injuries from 533 reported cases,” the Corps Marshal said in his statement. “The major contributors were driver fatigue, overloading, and unsafe practices like conveying people in haulage vehicles and carrying fuel in plastic containers.”
Mohammed stressed the need for increased driver awareness during the Ember season. “This period is marked by heavy traffic and increased travel, making it critical that drivers avoid risky behavior behind the wheel.”
The Corps Marshal also praised the media for its continued support in promoting safety messages.
“The media remains a vital partner in our sensitisation efforts, and we look forward to strengthening this collaboration.”
The announcement follows recent national figures also released by the FRSC, indicating that no fewer than 3,433 people were killed in road crashes across Nigeria between January and September 2025. During the same period, 22,162 individuals were injured in a total of 6,858 recorded accidents.
