The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Katsina Sector Command on Sunday joined the global community to mark the 2025 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash Victims, using worship centres across the state to drive its message on safer road use.
A joint delegation of FRSC personnel, Regular and Special Marshals, drawn from both Christian and Muslim officers and led by Maxwell Kaltungo Lede, the Sector Commander, attended a service at ECWA Good News Church, GRA Katsina, where they intensified awareness on the rising toll of road crashes in Nigeria.
Worshippers were urged to reflect on the human and economic costs of road crashes and to adopt safer road habits. The Corps emphasised the need for behavioural change, noting that personal responsibility remains central to reducing avoidable fatalities on the highways.
Speaking during the service, Lede expressed concern over the surge in road traffic crashes across Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where high population growth continues to fuel increased road usage.
“Africa’s rapidly increasing population contributes to higher road usage and more crashes. Nigeria, as the most populous country in Africa, suffers the highest number of fatalities and injuries,” he said.
He disclosed that 5,421 people died in road crashes in 2024, while 31,154 others sustained injuries from 9,570 reported incidents. Between January and September 2025, another 3,915 deaths and 24,674 injuries were recorded from 7,715 crashes nationwide.
Lede said this year’s theme, “Lost Talent,” underscores the magnitude of human potential cut short by road crashes, noting that traffic injuries remain the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged 5 to 29 years.
“Each life lost represents a dream interrupted and talent that can never be replaced. This day calls for deliberate steps to prevent further tragedies,” he added.
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The Sector Commander also drew attention to the emotional trauma associated with road crashes, stressing that the grief borne by families, communities, and even first responders often lingers long after annual statistics fade.
Dawuda Mani, overseeing pastor of ECWA Good News Church, commended the FRSC for using the church as a platform to promote safer motoring. Special prayers were offered for victims and their families.
One highlight of this year’s commemoration in Katsina was the unified participation of both Muslim and Christian FRSC personnel at the service, an expression of the Corps’ commitment to saving lives beyond religious boundaries.
