The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, on Thursday, issued a warning to fleet operators, commercial drivers, and private vehicle owners, urging them to stop making night trips.
Mohammed, in a statement signed by the corps spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, pointed to the increased dangers of night travel, which include poor visibility, driver fatigue, excessive speed, and the risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
He described night trips as “not only unsafe, but utterly dangerous.”
The warning came in the wake of two major accidents.
On September 8, 2024, a crash in Lapai, Niger State, resulted in 37 deaths after four vehicles collided and caught fire. The crash was attributed to speed violations and driver fatigue.
Another tragic accident occurred just days later on September 12, 2024, claiming the lives of 18 people along Abuja-Kaduna road. Both crashes occurred during nighttime travel.
“Crashes that occur at night are more fatal than the ones that happen in the day time,” Mohammed said, stressing the need for drivers to plan their journeys in daylight hours.
He noted that most night trips are taken for economic reasons, with fleet operators overloading vehicles and avoiding FRSC patrols.
While acknowledging that the FRSC does not have the authority to ban night travel, Mohammed urged Nigerians to reconsider their travel schedules.
He warned that in the event of a nighttime crash, especially in remote areas, rescue operations can be delayed due to the absence of FRSC personnel.
The Corps Marshal’s message also extended to passengers, advising them to resist the temptation of traveling at night unless absolutely necessary.
He called the recent deaths “avoidable, preventable, and unacceptable,” urging all road users to prioritise safety.