FRSC Katsina Marks World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, Calls for Collective Action on Road Safety
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Katsina Sector Command on Sunday joined the global community to commemorate the 2025 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash Victims with a solemn service held at ECWA Good News Church, GRA Katsina.
Led by the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Maxwell Kaltungo Lede, a delegation of Regular and Special Marshals — comprising both Christians and Muslims — attended the worship service, symbolising unity, shared values, and a common commitment to saving lives irrespective of religious backgrounds.
The event served as a moment to honour victims of road crashes, comfort grieving families and raise public awareness on the urgent need for safer road practices across Nigeria.
Addressing worshippers, Corps Commander Lede expressed deep concern over the rising cases of road traffic crashes in Africa, noting that Nigeria, as the continent’s most populous nation, records the highest fatality figures. He disclosed that 5,421 people died while 31,154 others sustained injuries in 9,570 crashes recorded across the country in 2024. Between January and September 2025, an additional 3,915 deaths and 24,674 injuries were reported from 7,715 crashes.
He described the statistics as heartbreaking, stressing that each number represents a life cut short, a dream lost, and talent that can never be replaced. This year's global theme, Lost Talent, underscores the devastating human potential wiped out by road crashes, particularly among young people aged 5 to 29 — the demographic most affected worldwide.
Lede emphasised that the pain of road crashes extends far beyond immediate victims. Families continue to grieve long after yearly figures are compiled, while first responders and emergency workers carry emotional burdens from witnessing traumatic crash scenes. He said road crashes leave behind “a long trail of shattered families, psychological pain, and social disruption.”
To tackle the challenge, he highlighted the FRSC’s adoption of the Safe System Approach, which anchors the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) 2021–2030. The national policy seeks to cut road traffic deaths by 50 percent by 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Lede stressed that achieving this vision requires collaboration among government institutions, communities, civil society and the private sector.
A notable feature of the remembrance in Katsina was the joint participation of both Muslim and Christian FRSC officers, which the Sector Commander described as a reflection of the Corps’ commitment to humanity above religious lines. The church leadership, led by Rev. Dawuda Mani, commended the FRSC for choosing ECWA Good News as a platform for road safety advocacy and pledged continued partnership. Special prayers were offered for road crash victims and bereaved families.
In his closing remarks, Corps Commander Lede called on all road users to reflect on the voices silenced by crashes and to embrace discipline behind the wheel. He warned against distracted driving and reaffirmed the FRSC’s resolve to sustain public enlightenment and enforce traffic regulations to reduce preventable deaths.
The commemoration ended with renewed calls for collective responsibility, with the Sector Command reiterating that every life lost to road crashes is one too many.
The World Day of Remembrance is observed annually on the third Sunday of November to honour victims, support families and encourage global action toward safer roads.
