Stakeholders Seek Reduced Carnage On Lagos – Ibadan Expressway

As frequent carnage on the ever busy Lagos -Ibadan Expressway continues to raise safety concerns, some transport stakeholders have stressed the need to achieve zero fatality on the road.

Thus, ahead of the end-of-year festivities, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) and motorists in Oyo State are actively collaborating under a comprehensive “Ember Months” road safety campaign aimed at achieving the feat during and after the yuletide.

The stakeholders who included organised transporters said there was an urgent need to adopt several key safety strategies.

Commenting on the initiatives being deployed, the FRSC state sector commander, Dahunsi Kehinde Sunday, said efforts were being geared towards reducing carnage on the road to the barest minimum.

Dahunsi, who disclosed that several measures had been put in place towards this, said, “To achieve this, advocacy has been taken to churches, mosques, garages and members of the organised transport unions across the state.

“Our target is to ensure that there is reduction of carnage on our roads this year when compared to last year.”

The corps commander added that enough personnel and logistics were on ground for an effective exercise during the ember months.

He said the corps would check road worthiness, overloading and mixed loading, risky driving habits, involving community and faith-based networks and adhering to strategic traffic diversion.

The chairman of OYRTMA, Major Adesagba Adekoya (rtd.), said the agency had designed comprehensive, decentralised road safety campaign across the state, targeting zero road fatalities during the 2026 festive season.

Adekoya identified speeding, driving against traffic, drunk driving, overloading and the use of mobile phones while driving as major causes of road crashes during the Ember Months.

He stressed the need for increased public awareness and strict compliance with traffic regulations.

He said the agency would collaborate with religious leaders to promote road safety, adding that safety messages would be incorporated into sermons during Friday Jumat services and Sunday church services.

He added that the agency would work with the Park Management System (PMS), Nigeria Police Force, Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and other law enforcement agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to traffic management and enforcement.

Also speaking one of the leaders of Park Management System (PMS), Oluwadamilare said commercial drivers would engage with the Vehicle Inspection Services (VIS) to ensure their brakes, tires, and mechanical systems are fully serviced to prevent road failures during heavy festive transit.

He said transport operators, through partnerships with groups like the Park Management System (PMS), are taking steps to eliminate the dangerous practice of mixing heavy commercial goods with passengers, which drastically compromises vehicle control.

He added that motorists were being educated and strictly monitored to eradicate top seasonal causes of road carnage: excessive speeding, driving against traffic (one-way), using mobile phones while driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

According to him, motorists are utilizing local orientation frameworks to engage religious leaders across the state to weave road safety rules directly into Friday and Sunday sermons, reinforcing safe driving as a moral and civic responsibility.