The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has sounded a serious warning to fleet operators, commercial drivers, and private car owners, urging them to avoid night travel due to its increased risks.
In a statement issued by the Corps spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Thursday, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, highlighted the grave dangers associated with driving at night. These include poor visibility, driver fatigue, excessive speed, and the heightened possibility of drivers dozing off behind the wheel.
Mohammed minced no words, describing night travel as “not only unsafe, but downright perilous.”
His caution follows two devastating accidents that occurred within days of each other. On September 8, 2024, a horrific crash in Lapai, Niger State, claimed 37 lives after four vehicles collided and burst into flames. Investigations revealed that speed and driver exhaustion were major factors in the tragedy.
Just days later, on September 12, 2024, another tragic accident along the Abuja-Kaduna road resulted in 18 deaths, again during night travel.
Mohammed pointed out that night-time crashes tend to be more deadly than those that occur during the day. He urged drivers to plan their journeys for daylight hours to minimise risks.
The Corps Marshal acknowledged that many night journeys are driven by economic motives, with some fleet operators overloading vehicles and seeking to avoid FRSC patrols. However, he urged Nigerians to rethink such travel habits, stressing that while the FRSC cannot outrightly ban night travel, it strongly advises against it.
He also warned that accidents occurring in the dead of night, particularly in remote locations, often face delayed rescue efforts due to the absence of FRSC personnel on the ground.
In addition, Mohammed advised passengers to resist travelling at night unless absolutely necessary, calling recent fatalities “avoidable, preventable, and unacceptable.” He urged all road users to place their safety above convenience or economic gains.
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